The multi-million-dollar colt, Storm Boy (-555.56), has maintained his unbeaten start to his career after taking out the Group 2 Skyline Stakes at Rosehill as he prepares for the Group 1 Golden Slipper at his next start.
The Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained galloper was a little slow away from the barriers, but James McDonald gave the son of Justify a dig in the ribs, and he quickly found the front to run.
Although he was sent around as long odds-on favourite with online bookmakers, Storm Boy did more than enough to suggest that he will be at his peak in the Golden Slipper on March 23, when he will be second-up for the campaign.
Making up ground from midfield was the stable mate Prost (+1100), who ran home nicely into third place, while Duvana (+1800) from the Waller stable stuck on well for third.
However, as many expected, all the honours went to the winner, as he won by an official margin of 1.38 lengths on the line.
2024 Skyline Stakes Replay – Storm Boy
Adrian Bott was on course to represent the stable, and he spoke post-race.
“It’s always a little bit nerve wracking seeing these profile horses come back off that turnaround,” Bott said.
“It has been a big trip away for him, but he’s had a good campaign.
“He is back in good shape, with the conditions today, he had to ride those but I think he certainly did enough and we’ve left some nice improvement to come.
“He’s got a high cruising speed, he looked in full control from the outset, then he can find more levels and keep quickening off that and he looked in good shape going to the line.
“It’s his first run and at 1200 metres off a while between races and a freshen up, he’s only had the one trial and he’s a lovely, big colt so I think condition-wise, that will tighten him up nicely.
“We’ve had to prepare for the Golden Slipper, but we’ve got big targets for the Triple Crown as well.
“I’d like to think he is only going to be better suited getting over the 1400, 1600 metres in time. It’s very exciting for everyone involved.”
After riding Storm Boy in a barrier trial, James McDonald was impressed by the class of the colt in his first race ride, and spoke about his ability post-race.
“He’s as good as you get. He’s strong, he knows he’s really good and the more you ask him the more he keeps giving,” McDonald said of the Golden Slipper favourite.
“You don’t get many fields coming up the rise and quickening like he does by himself. If feel like if one joined him he would go again.
“You could see him down the middle of the track, fishtailed a little bit through greenness but there is so much more to come and that is the scary thing about him.
“The most impressive thing is I think he’s got more to come and more to give.
“Until he gets into a high pressure race, I think that is when you’ll see a fair dinkum horse. He felt like he could rip away and he’s got more to give.
“Ryan (Moore) is obviously their (Coolmore) number one and we’ll see what happens but if I get the opportunity I’d love to ride him.”
Storm Boy has shortened into +130 in the Golden Slipper futures market with online horse betting sites.
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