Search

show me:

Storm Boy dazzles again to romp home with Skyline

3 minute read

James McDonald has bestowed high praise on unbeaten colt Storm Boy saying, “he’s as good as you get”.

STORM BOY winning the CATANACH'S JEWELLERS SKYLINE STAKES at Randwick in Australia
STORM BOY winning the CATANACH'S JEWELLERS SKYLINE STAKES at Randwick in Australia Picture: Steve Hart

Gai Waterhouse and Adrain Bott don't just have their sights set on the Golden Slipper with Storm Boy, they are also eyeing off a clean sweep of the juvenile triple crown.

As the raging Slipper favourite made light work of his Skyline Stakes (1200m) rivals at Randwick on Saturday, Bott was already thinking of the bigger autumn picture and the heights the $60 million colt might reach.

He revealed that he and Waterhouse were keen to target the youngster, not just at the Golden Slipper (1200m), but at the ATC Sires' Produce (1400m) and Champagne Stakes (1600m) as well.

"We've had to prepare for the Golden Slipper, but we've got big targets for the triple crown as well," Bott said.

"I'd like to think he is only going to be better suited getting over the 1400, 1600 metres in time.

"It's very exciting for everyone involved."

Having his first start since demolishing his Magic Millions rivals, Storm Boy wasn't the best to begin but quickly mustered speed to take up the running under new jockey James Mcdonald.

As the pressure came on at the top of the straight, the $1.18 favourite found another gear, extending his advantage and cruising to the line 1-1/2 lengths clear of stablemate Prost ($12) with Duvana  ($18) another 1-1/4 lengths away third.

Bott said it was a relief to see Storm Boy return so well from his Magic Millions foray and tick the final box in what will be his last start before the Golden Slipper in three weeks.

"It's always a little bit nerve wracking seeing these profile horses come back off that turnaround," Bott said.

"He's a lovely style of horse, he's got plenty of gears.

"It's his first run (back) and at 1200 metres off a while between races and a freshen up - he's only had the one trial and he's a lovely, big colt - so I think condition-wise, that will tighten him up nicely."

McDonald was having his first race day feel of Storm Boy and came away brimming with praise for the Coolmore colt.

He believes there is still more under the bonnet and expects the youngster to thrive in a high-pressure race like the Slipper.

"He's as good as you get," McDonald said.

"He's strong, he knows he's really good and the more you ask him the more he keeps giving.

"Until he gets into a high-pressure race, I think that is when you'll see a fair dinkum horse."

Connections are yet to decide if McDonald will keep the Slipper ride, or if it will go to English jockey Ryan Moore, who jetted in to claim last year's two-year-old centrepiece for Coolmore on Shinzo.

However, McDonald made it clear he is keen to stick with the Skyline Stakes winner.

"Ryan (Moore) is obviously their number one and we'll see what happens, but if I get the opportunity, I'd love to ride him," McDonald said.

The Michael Freedman-trained Manaal took out the Group 2 Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m) for the fillies to remain the only non-Tulloch Lodge two-year-old to claim a black-type race in Sydney this season.

Manaal also denied Waterhouse and Bott when capturing the Gimcrack Stakes in September and while Freedman said she would most likely press on to the Slipper, he admitted the males looked hard to beat this year.

"She is one of the better fillies around, whether they can stack up against the colts remains to be seen," Freedman said.

"We thought we could come here and get the job done, we'll have a think about the Slipper."


Racing and Sports

Randwick

Saturday, 02nd March 2024

4
14:15
(local)

CATANACH'S JEWELLERS SKYLINE STAKES (G2)

Age: 2yo Sex: CG Type: OPEN
AUD $302,000
1200m TURF GOOD
4
14:15
(local)
AUD $302,000
1200m GOOD

CATANACH'S JEWELLERS SKYLINE STAKES (G2)

Age: 2yo Sex: CG Type: OPEN


FP Silk Horse, Age & Sex
Sire & Dam
Jockey
Trainer
SP
WT
1st 1. STORM BOY (AUS) 2yo C
JUSTIFY (USA) - PELICAN (NZ)
JAMES MCDONALD
G WATERHOUSE & A BOTT
$1.18
55.5kg
Coolmore,Go Bloodstock,Iskander,Peachester Lodge,M Goodson,JPA Super,L To,Lockhart Waller,Bangaloe Stud,Resolute Racing,Poulin Maclennan,Cunningham T'breds,Nocab Racing(S Bacon),R Canceri,Huang Long Olatype(R McClure),De Jersey Grogan(Z De Jersey),Annetts Bowler(P Hughes)&Panthers Dickson(J Widdows)

Sales Information

2nd 3. PROST (AUS) 2yo C
SNITZEL (AUS) - SAMARMETEORS (AUS)
ADAM HYERONIMUS
G WATERHOUSE & A BOTT
$12
55.5kg
TFI (Mgr: Miss S Williams), Kia Ora Stud W S (Mgr: A Krishnan), GW Holdings (Mgr: G J Wilson), Mrs M M Maloney, K G Maloney, G D McCloskey, F J Kelly, G Singh, J Carmichael, D T Moxon, J M Russo & Mrs E M Russo

Sales Information

3rd 8. DUVANA (AUS) 2yo C
DUNDEEL (NZ) - STAY WITH ME (AUS)
JASON COLLETT
CHRIS WALLER
$18
55.5kg
TFI (Mgr: Miss S Williams) & Kia Ora Stud W S (Mgr: A Krishnan)

Sales Information

4th 4. PARKOUR (AUS) 2yo C
EXTREME CHOICE (AUS) - TRESTRAIL (AUS)
TIM CLARK
JAMES CUMMINGS
$13
55.5kg

Sales Information

5th 7. PRESIDENT (AUS) 2yo C
I AM INVINCIBLE (AUS) - SERENE MAJESTY (AUS)
KERRIN MCEVOY
CHRIS WALLER
$20
55.5kg

Sales Information

6th 5. CERONS (AUS) 2yo C
STREET BOSS (USA) - SAUTERNES (AUS)
ASHLEY MORGAN
BRETT CAVANOUGH
$51
55.5kg

Sales Information

7th 6. INDECISIVE (AUS) 2yo C
BRAZEN BEAU (AUS) - SERIOUS DOUBTS (AUS)
ZAC LLOYD
JOHN P THOMPSON
$41
55.5kg

Sales Information

What’s gambling really costing you?

For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit www.gamblinghelponline.org.au