Boom colt Storm Boy has made an early spring statement with a devastating first-up win in the San Domenico Stakes at Rosehill, prompting connections to reassess their plans and consider an Everest tilt.
The hulking three-year-old, who started a $2.35 equal bookmakers favourite, showcased sustained speed to lead throughout in Saturday’s 1100-metre contest, stretching his advantage to three lengths on the line to defeat stablemate Mayfair ($6.50) with Tropicus ($17) making good ground for third, another long neck away.
Co-trainer Adrian Bott said there was a sense of satisfaction in seeing Storm Boy return so well after he rounded out his juvenile season with successive defeats as favourite in both the Golden Slipper and ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes.
“I think that has taken a few question marks away from him,”‘ Bott said.
“We asked so much of him last campaign, in the Magic Millions, (then) things didn’t quite go his way in the Golden Slipper, maybe we asked one too many runs of him going into the Sires’.
“We were just trying to prove that point, that he’s as good a colt as he is, so it is satisfying to see him make the statement on his own accord.
“Obviously we’ve got to get him to the big days, the big targets and go from there.”
The Golden Rose (1400m) is the immediate goal for Storm Boy as connections look to garner an elusive Group 1 win for the valuable stud proposition.
Beyond that, the Caulfield Guineas (1600m) and Cox Plate (2040m) had both been pencilled in, although Bott said Storm Boy showed such brilliance in the San Domenico Stakes (1100m) that an Everest (1200m) campaign had to be considered.
“In the back of our minds, we’ve always thought a Caulfield Guineas, Cox Plate type of program for him. That’s what we thought going into the campaign,” Bott said.
“But with the brilliance he has shown today, whether he could be an Everest horse dropping back off a Golden Rose – everything is on the table, no decision has been made.
“We’re heading towards the Golden Rose, that’s his immediate target.
“We’d love to get that Group One for him because he’s a Group One colt and if we can tick that box, that gives us all the options.”
Bott confirmed Storm Boy would have one more run before then in The Run To The Rose (1200m) in two weeks.
He was also delighted with the effort of Mayfair, who was having his first test in stakes company after two runs over the winter.
“Coming back to 1100 probably isn’t his go, he’s on the same (Golden Rose) path,” Bott said.
“He will keep improving but the way he fought back and was strong through the line was very impressive.”
Gatsby’s was sent out an equal favourite with Storm Boy but jockey James Mcdonald thought he may have been unsuited by the firm track.
“He jumped and put himself in a really good spot, he travelled well. He just failed to let go on that fast ground,”‘ McDonald said.