If import Boniface is going to turn the tables on his “arch nemesis” Tazima then co-trainer Michael Kent Jnr says he has a prime chance to do it in Saturday’s TAB Premier’s Cup Prelude (1800m) at Randwick.
There was about a long neck between them when they met back on June 20 but Tazima extended the margin to two lengths in their July 11 meeting run in conditions the stable feels weren’t in his horse’s favour.
For their third round clash, once again over the Randwick 1800m, Kent Jnr said on SEN the different conditions, barrier draw and weight swing are reasons to be positive he can break through.
“I really like this horse, he’s run well in all three Australian starts,’’ he said.
“Tazima has been his arch nemesis, he’s knocked him off in his last two but it was like a heavy 12 last start at Randwick.
“I think he almost levelled up with Tazima and just didn’t go with him on that bottomless ground.
“It’s a much nicer surface this Saturday, he’s down on 52kg and drawn a better gate where he won’t be getting so far back.”
It’ll be left to Tyler Schiller to find the right spot for Boniface, $3.30 with TAB on Thursday, but Kent Jnr said if he can land in a striking position with cover he has the dash to be very dangerous.
“You could settle as close as you want, he’s got plenty of tactical speed, but the key is having that balance because if you light him up he will get too keen,’’ he said.
“He prefers a bit of cover, smother him up, and Tyler knows him well and he’ll achieve that. He’s got a turn of foot for a horse that gets a strong nine furlongs.”
Boniface runs 2nd at Randwick on July 11
An outside barrier for in-form galloper The Creator could make his life a bit difficult in the MM Electrical Handicap (1600m) but the stable believes he couldn’t be going any better.
Aside from his close second to Cold Brew two starts ago, he’s not drawn where Kent Jnr says he can be ridden to the best effect though last start he wasn’t able to land near the lead when he ran on into third behind Rock Empire.
With at least a couple of scratchings likely, Anna Roper’s job will be made a little easier but he said The Creator will still need some luck.
“The horse is really in the zone, he’s not run a bad race in a long time,’’ he said.
“The track is perfect for him, he likes his toe in without it being too heavy.
“He’s jumped, led, and won several times before but last start from a wide gate he didn’t have the early toe. It means you’re hoping for a bit of luck.”
The above article was written by Ray Hickson onRacingnsw.com.