Alice Springs trainer Kerry Petrick hopes Boom Boom Sweet will go back to back in the $35,000 Kununurra Cup (1800m) on Saturday.
The eight-year-old gelding, second in the 2022 Cup, returned to the venue in WA’s north-east a year ago to seal victory over stablemates Mangione and Dip Me Lid – thus making it a Petrick trifecta.
Boom Boom Sweet, the son of Jakkalberry – third behind Green Moon in the 2012 Melbourne Cup, kicked off his third visit to Kununurra last Saturday as the $3.20 favourite when second behind Mr Mt Walker over 1600m (RTG62).
Mr Mt Walker ($8), trained by Albany’s Roy Rogers, led throughout in a race where there was little speed to finish half a length ahead of Boom Boom Sweet, who couldn’t bridge the gap in the home straight.
Corden ($3.90) and A Big Chance ($3.70), trained by the Top End’s Chris Pollard, were third and fourth – the stablemates are backing up in the Kununurra Cup.
Petrick’s Dip Me Lid, a narrow winner over 1600m (RTG47) last weekend, and Raffalli, trained by Darwin’s Tayarn Halter – third over 1100m (RTG62) on Day 1 of the Kununurra Carnival – complete the field.
Boom Boom Sweet, who will once again lump 60kg for a second straight week, spotted Mr Mt Walker 3.5kg last weekend, but in the Cup the WA gelding has been assigned 57.5kg.
Alice Springs jockey Paul Denton partners Boom Boom Sweet in the Cup for the second year in a row, while Tweed Heads-based jockey Chris Taylor, who rode a winning treble last Saturday, retains the ride on Mr Mt Walker.
“To be quite honest, I really like both of my horses in the Cup,” Petrick said.
“Boom Boom Sweet, he’s got a fair weight – he did win last year with a similar weight.
“There’s a couple of horses with a lighter weight that I think are in with a big show as well.
“I thought Mr Mt Walker was fantastic last Saturday and on that run he’s a threat.
“He meets us a little bit closer in the weights.
“I think the race is going to be run a lot differently this Saturday.
“There’s going to be a lot more early speed with Raffalli starting.
“It could change the dimensions of the race, it may work in our favour – you never know.”
Petrick won previous Kununurra Cups with Sir Rossi (2000) and Indian Ridge (2003).
“I first came here in 2000, the countryside and the racecourse is stunning,” Petrick said.
“I just love it here – the people who put on the show treat us just so well.
“It’s just a really pleasant experience, it’s also wonderful to have the opportunity to race on a grass track.”
Petrick, who boasts a good record in Kununurra, is hopeful of another good day after landing four wins on Day 1.
“I’ve got 13 over here, they all raced last weekend and they’ll all race again this Saturday,” Petrick added.
“There’s a few of them that have come back for another stint – for a few of them it’s their third round.”
The Kununurra Cup jumps at 6.35pm Australian Eastern Standard Time, or 3.05pm in Western Australia on Saturday.
Horse racing news
