THE only thing more remarkable than a horse snaring the biggest win of his career as a 10-year-old is coming back and successfully defending his crown a year later.
That’s exactly what remarkable Victorian veteran Bulletproof Boy did in last night’s Group 2 Bendigo Cup, which was moved to Melton because of Victoria’s bushfires.
It capped the most remarkable 12 months for the gelding, who has now beaten the great Leap To Fame and new pacing sensation Kingman in two of recent wins.
“He went years doing a great job, but without getting the recognition … he’s getting it now,” trainer Scott Ewen said.
“To win this race last year was amazing, but to come back and do it again, and beat an even better field as an 11-year-old is hard to describe.
“He’s a freak, ‘Herbie’ (driver James Herbertson) is a freak. They’re both just freaks.”
Ewen insists Herbertson, Australia’s premier driver for the past two years, has played a key role in Bulletproof Boy finding career-best form at a time most others had long been retired.
“Look at the difference he’s made. The stats say it,” he said.
Herbertson has driven Bulletproof Boy 14 times for seven wins, two seconds, two thirds and a fourth.
“There’s no way I could’ve won some of the races Herbie has on him, not that one tonight, what a drive that was,” Ewen said.
Herbertson trailed Kingman in the running line, but ducked back down to the inside when a gap appeared coming to the home bend and eventually used the sprint lane to win running away in a slick 1min51.2sec mile rate for 1720m.
“I’m just stunned how easily he won it. He just picked them up so easily and cruised home,” Herbertson said.
Now Ewen can dream about winning the new $1 million bonus across Victoria’s six nights of the Summer of Glory.
With one leg in the bag, the gelding needs to win another three of the remaining five Cups, including the $250,000 Group 1 Hunter Cup on February 14, to land the bonus.
“I’ll wait and see how he comes through this run before deciding if we back-up for the next leg next Saturday,” Ewen said.
That’s the $50,000 Shepparton Gold Cup which shapes as the best race Victoria has seen for many years.
The great Leap To Fame and champion stayer Swayzee are confirmed starters.
And Kingman will back-up after his lacklustre first-up third to Bulletproof Boy last night.
“He wasn’t himself. He felt flat,” trainer-driver Luke McCarthy said. “I think it was the (long) drive down (from NSW) on the morning of the race, but we couldn’t have come the day before because it was scorching.
“I’d planned to take him home after this, but he’ll stay down here for the week between runs now.”
Champion trotting mare Keayang Zahara may also back-up at Shepparton after cruising to her 21st win from just 22 starts, and an 11th at Group 1 level, in last night’s $100,000 Maori Mile.
She looks well poised to bank the new $500,000 bonus for winning four or more legs of the six trotting features in the Summer of Glory.
Keayang Zahara’s main threat may be stablemate Jilliby Ballerini, who arrogantly overcame a 30m handicap to win last night’s Bendigo Trotters’ Cup.
But the pair may stay apart until the last leg, the $250,000 Group 1 Great Southern Star at Melton on February 14.
PHOTO: Stuart McCormick
