Kiwi galloper The Bostonian will join some Brisbane winter carnival legends if he can win his third Group One race in the Stradbroke Handicap.
The Bostonian maintained his unbeaten Queensland record with his wins in the Group One Doomben 10,000 and Group One Kingsford Smith Cup this winter.
He joined a group of 34 horses who have won two Group One races in Brisbane since World War II.
However, it is far smaller number who have won three or more Brisbane Group Ones.
Heading the way is the great New Zealand galloper Rough Habit who won six Group Ones – three Doomben Cups, two Stradbrokes and a Queensland Derby.
Winfreux won three Group One races, taking the Stradbroke, Doomben 10,000 and Doomben Cup while Apache Cat won two Doomben 10,000s and a BTC Cup.
The champion galloper Tulloch won the Queensland Derby, Sires’ Produce Stakes and Brisbane Cup when they were the equivalent of Group Ones.
Top Queensland stayer Earlwood won two Doomben Cups and a Queensland Derby.
The Bostonian won’t be out of place in such lofty heights as he will become the first horse to complete the 10,000, Kingsford Smith Cup, and Stradbroke treble.
His liking for Queensland is best shown in his prize money because his five wins from five starts in Queensland has reaped $1,093,785.
The Bostonian’s other 11 starts have earned $160,492, which even allowing for New Zealand’s lower prize money, shows the difference in his performances away from the winter carnival.
Trainer Tony Pike said The Bostonian and his stablemate Endless Drama had to continued to please since their runs in the Kingsford Smith Cup two weeks ago.
“They worked strongly on Tuesday and with some luck they will be right in it on Saturday,” he said.
Pike said The Bostonian relished his trips to Queensland and he had been able to space his runs two weeks apart this time.
“When he was here last time he basically won three races in the space of three weeks,” he said.
Pike said he wasn’t worried by The Bostonian’s topweight of 57kg as it was what he expected the gelding to get.
The Bostonian will have to carry the biggest weight in 27 years to win and become the first topweight in 17 years to achieve victory.
Pike said while The Bostonian was favourite for the Stradbroke, Endless Drama should not be underestimated.
“He got a long way back in the Kingsford Smith and he finished the race off well. Out to 1400m will suit him,” Pike said.
