BTC Cup preview
Group One racing heads to Brisbane this Saturday with the running of the BTC Cup at Doomben. Black Caviar won this race in 2011, Sea Siren in 2012 with Your Song bolting in on a wet track last year.
Buffering, Spirit of Boom and Temple of Boom all ran in this race last year with Buffering just beaten out of a place into fourth. He heads into this race third-up from a spell where he’s won twice and been placed a further three times from eight third-up attempts. Last start he was placed behind Lankan Rupee in the TJ Smith Stakes on a heavy track, he’s won three times at the track, is a three-time Group One winner and jockey Damien Browne is five wins and four minors from 13 rides. He’s a ten-time winner over the distance and has been installed an early short-priced favourite for the race.
Spirit of Boom was sixth in this race last year; Temple of Boom, last. The ‘Boom Brothers’ ran the quinella last start in the G2 Victory Stakes with the older half-brother (Temple) the victor at bolters odds. The pair are well known to punters and their stats make quite interesting reading. Spirit (a 6YO entire) has won eight races from 49 starts and amassed over $1.8 million in prize money while Temple (a 7YO gelding) has won 11 from 48 and won just over $1.4 million. Spirit comes into this race with three seconds and a win from his last four starts but if there is if any rain about, their form suggests it will suit Temple better.
Snitzerland was third behind the ‘Booms’ last start and she was a Group One winner in the Lightning Stakes first-up in her campaign. Tiger Tees has contested Group One’s at his last three starts, including a win in the Galaxy. He’s run well in all three, which were all on rain affected surfaces.
Hot Snitzel was a last-start Group Three winner over Knoydart in the Hall Mark Stakes at Randwick, Peron is second-up after a six month spell due to injury and her record when second-up is two wins and a minor from three attempts, while Famous Seamus didn’t show much last start and has been a bit disappointing this prep but he’s a talented galloper on his day and a win wouldn’t totally shock.