A strong, progressive win by BIGBOYROY (Dissident-Follonica) in the first at Kembla’s marquee meeting set the scene for a big, big day.
After a cracking pace was set by Knight, who made the race at times look like a 1000m sprint, rather than a 1500m affair allowing Air To Air to come surging home from near last to just miss catching the ever improving Bigboyroy who had been sitting 4th most of the way.
Both runners have talent.
Knight hung on particularly well to grab 3rd and they ran the time of 1:28.61. Which is a track record.
Yep, it was a race and a half.
It was only a BM 78 race but that record has been around for 9 years.
“I was a little bit worried when they were running that sort of time and didn’t know how it would pan out,” said Chris Waller stable foreman Charlie Duckworth.
“These colours worn by Bigboyroy have been lucky down here. They are the same as Mister Sea Wolf who won The Gong last year, so we love this place.”
Said James McDonald who rode the winner, “he is a tough customer this horse and he’s just needed the firm ground.
“He raced in patches on and off the bridle but it was a very tough effort. Great conditions for the race and him, but this bloke might be pretty smart.”
Jay Mac rode Mister Sea Wolf to win the $1million The Gong last year and he remembered all too well the big kiss on the mouth his Irish-born part-owner Noel Greenhalge planted on his mouth after winning.
Greenhalge also part-owns Bigboyroy.
“I’m glad he isn’t here to do it about Big Roy’s win. I still have memories of it on my lips….” said the jock shaking his head in genuine disgust!
The race Bigboyroy won today was worth $125,000 and took his career to 18 starts, 3 wins and 10 minors for $180,450 in prize earnings.