THE BOY WONDER WINS AT TE RAPA

Following a very good fresh-up run, The Boy Wonder (3 c Cape Blanco – Keep the Passion, by Keeper) upped the ante with a terrific win in the $10,000 Maiden 3YO 1600 metres on Saturday at Te Rapa.

The win provided Victorian jockey Jake Bayliss with his first success since arriving on Tuesday in New Zealand.

When resuming without a trial in the Maiden 1400 metres on 18 October at Te Aroha, The Boy Wonder clocked one of the fastest final 600 metres (34.2) on the day, working home solidly out of midfield for third.

On this occasion, in the race sponsored by Bell Neuhauser & (Matthews) Optometrists, The Boy Wonder received an economical trip in running for Bayliss, three back on the inner, improved off the rail around the home bend and once a gap arrived at the 200m he quickened past his rivals with ease for a comfortable win.

On Dead4 footing, The Boy Wonder ran the 1600 metres in 1.37.8 and paid $5.10 & $1.40 on the NZ TAB tote.

“It was a very good win, pleasing, especially because we had to have a change of plans with him,” said Pam Gerard, who trains the horse in partnership with Mike Moroney.

“He was entered for the 2000 Guineas, but with the way the wet weather and tracks have been we decided not to go down that path and rather with a win under his belt then target some of the three-year-old races along the way to the (NZ) Derby.

“Jake (Bayliss) has been flat out since arriving in Matamata. He’s doing the hard yards and doing a really good job. He arrived on Tuesday, rode on Wednesday at Waipa, trials Thursday at Cambridge, rode again yesterday at Avondale, won today at Te Rapa, and tomorrow he’s off to Hastings, so he’s been everywhere in the first week and I don’t think he quite knows where he is.

“He’s looking really good, a very strong and talented young rider and a real asset to our riding ranks.

“He rode the horse beautifully. He said he settled really well, came back to him beautifully and he said there should be no problems getting him to settle over a trip at whatever speed they went, and that he was very manageable and a progressive derby type.”

Off note, champion galloper Xcellent (Pentire), trained by Mike and Paul Moroney, also kicked off his racing career in the corresponding race at Te Rapa, before going on to win the NZ Derby (Gr. 1, 2400m) at only his third start.

Before two starts as a two-year-old, The Boy Wonder won two trials: beating race winner Charli Rose (Pierro) at Te Aroha, and Group One placed Age of Fire (Fastnet Rock) at Avondale, having earlier finished third to Sarten Memorial (Gr. 2, 1400m) winner Sumstreetsumwhere (Highly Recommended) at Cambridge, which is all very good form.

Selected for $85,000 as a yearling by Paul Moroney, from the account of Blackridge, at the 2016 New Zealand Bloodstock Select Sale, he is owned by Ballymore Stables (Aust) Pty Ltd, Ballymore Stables NZ Ltd, Sue Moroney, Wayne Boyd, Alan Schmedje & Shane Rodney Vugler.

The Boy Wonder is the fifth foal from Royal Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m) winner Keep the Passion, herself a course winner on debut as a two-year-old over 1200 metres, and half-brother to the capable galloper Volts (Volksraad).

“Being a colt, he’ll go for the some of the better three-year-old races and the long term plan when Mike and Paul bought him was the Derby,” Gerard said.

“He had a couple of educational runs as a two-year-old, which were on unsuitable slow tracks, and he’s come up very well this time in.

“As a colt, he still does a fair amount of ‘talking’, but once he’s out with the saddle on he’s quite professional.

“When Paul inspected the horse he said he’s the spitting image of Frankel and the reason why they bought him.”

The similarity in breeding coming from Galileo (Sadler’s Well), being the sire of both Frankel and the sire of The Boy Wonder in Cape Blanco.

The Boy Wonder was strapped by Nae Te Patu.