Promising three-year-old Bombalatomba has had his race plans brought forward to ensure his Australian Guineas campaign isn’t compromised.
Trainer Chris Hyland was aiming the impressive last-start Sandown winner at next week’s Group Three CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington but, fearing he would be balloted out, has switched him to Saturday’s Group Two Autumn Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
“We were going for the CS Hayes but with his rating there was no guarantee he would get a run,” Hyland said.
Only 13 horses have accepted for the Autumn Stakes in which Bombalatomba will be chasing his third win in seven starts.
Hyland declared after Bombalatomba’s barnstorming win over Westchester in a 0-72 class race over 1400 metres on January 28 that “he was going for gold” with the Australian Guineas the autumn goal for the gelding.
He said the son of Fast `n’ Famous had been slow maturing and plagued by shin-soreness as a younger horse but had always shown a lot of promise.
“He had a little bit of bad luck early in his prep but he was pretty convincing the other day,” Hyland said.
His acceleration and his second effort when Westchester rallied impressed Hyland.
He said Bombalatomba’s record would have been better had he not nearly fallen at Sandown three starts ago and that he was blocked for a run twice at Moonee Valley at his following start.
“All his runs this time in he has finished off strongly,” Hyland said.
Brad Rawiller is unbeaten on Bombalatomba, winning on him twice, and will ride him again on Saturday.
Success on Saturday would elevate Bombalatomba in the Australian Guineas market with him presently quoted at $61 with TAB Sportsbet.
The other 12 Autumn Stakes runners are also nominated for the Guineas including the Peter Snowden-trained Benfica and Pied A Terre who are stablemates of the Guineas favourite Helmet.
Notably, the Autumn Stakes heralds the return of the Mike Moroney-trained Sabrage, who was third to Sangster in the Victoria Derby, and Collar who finished last in the Classic after his Group Two placing in the Vase at Moonee Valley.
AAP TURF
