Multiple Group 1 placegetter Barb Raider is the reason Jerome Hunter will be in Sydney this weekend, but the Victorian trainer is more than hopeful stablemate Thron Bone can be a worthwhile support act.
After accepting an offer for Barb Raider to contest Saturday’s $2 million The Invitation (1400m) at Randwick, Hunter thought it prudent to give her some company on the interstate trip and Thron Bone appealed as the perfect companion.
“We thought, well Barb Raider is going up, she may as well have a travelling mate and we’ll make a day of it,” Hunter said.
“His form reads well, and he won’t have a problem what type of track he runs on, he loves the wet so that won’t be an issue at all.
“He will give a show.”
Thron Bone will line up in Saturday’s Listed Brian Crowley Stakes (1200m) and adds plenty of intrigue to the field.
After stringing together three wins in succession during the Melbourne winter, his streak ended in the Vain Stakes when he bumped into Giga Kick.
Thron Bone finished fifth to last Saturday’s Everest victor in the Vain, and while Hunter says Giga Kick is in a different league to his horse, he admits the form out of his charge’s last run has at least stacked up.
“Giga Kick, he is a local because I train at Mornington as well, so it was just fantastic to see what happened last Saturday,” Hunter said.
“That horse is amazing. We finished behind him and hopefully the field isn’t as tough as Giga Kick on Saturday.”
Thron Bone is $11 with TAB fixed odds, with Roman Consul Stakes placegetter Willinga Beast a $2.90 favourite, although she is also an acceptor in Melbourne.
