A positive endorsement from veteran jockey Pat Carbery has given trainer Anne King a timely boost as Boots Like Bruce gears up for an imminent return to racing.
The eight-year-old led from start to finish in his 950m hit-out at Lark Hill this morning (Monday), stopping the clock at 57.39 seconds, the fastest time of the morning, and holding all challengers at bay in a strong performance.
“Paddy (Carbery) said he did everything right and felt good,” King said to Racing WA.
“I’m really happy because it’s been a while, he’s had a lot of foot issues.
“As it is, it just takes time, but he’s ready to come back.”
The trial win against some handy types, reaffirmed the gelding’s sprinting credentials which were on full display a year ago when he gave King massive joy with four straight wins, taking out dual Listed races: the Bolton Sprint (1200m) and Belmont Newmarket (1200m).
Boots Like Bruce has not raced since King reached for the sky, targeting elite sprinters in the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) last November where he was outclassed, finishing 14th of 16 behind proven eastern states performer and Ascot specialist Overpass.
King confirmed Boots Like Bruce will resume at Belmont on September 13 and she’s confident heading into the run, saying he’s had a trouble-free preparation and was ticking all the right boxes.
“He goes well fresh and there’s that race: the Nicopolis Stakes (1200m),” King said.
“I’ve had an uninterrupted prep this time.
“Even when he won those couple of good races, I had issues then.
“Giving him time to get over those foot issues has helped.
“And I’m training him from the paddock and that seems to be helping as well.
“He is an eight-year-old but is pretty lightly raced.
“I’d like to have ten of them.”
Following his winter blitz last year, Boots Like Bruce came unstuck during the Ascot Pinnacles Carnival, unable to replicate his Belmont form in the Colonel Reeves Stakes and Prince Of Wales Stakes before his Winterbottom bid.
Despite the results, King has no regrets about having a crack at the top level.
“In hindsight he probably wasn’t 100 per cent, but you are trying,” King said.
“It was a Group 1.”
Another tempting race King hopes to consider is the inaugural $1 million Golden Saddle in Kalgoorlie, a 1200m slot race and Australia’s richest regional event.
“If someone rang me and offered me the slot race in Kalgoorlie, I would probably have a look at that.” King said.
Boots Like Bruce has nine wins from 19 starts, amassing $369, 446 in earnings. He made a brilliant start to his career, winning on debut four years ago and has proven to be a horse that races well fresh, with three wins from six first up attempts.
Julio Santarelli