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Kelly hopeful Boom Chicka Boom can turn the tables

22 April 2020

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By Glenn Davis

Trainer Les Kelly is hoping a slight weight advantage may help flying machine Boom Chicka Boom turn the tables on his main rival Usmanov at the Gold Coast on Friday.

The pair line up in a slick field in the Open Handicap over 900 metres.

Kelly rates Usmanov, who is trained by Toby and Trent Edmonds, as the main threat in the Open Handicap which includes Stakes winner Spurcraft.

When the pair last met Boom Chicka Boom carried 56kgs - 1.5kgs more than Usmanov who beat him by less than half a length over 900 metres at the Gold Coast on March 14.

This time, Boom Chicka Boom has a half kilogram advantage with 57kgs, one kilo more than Usmanov.

Boom Chicka Boom, a Michael Cahill mount, stepped up to 1200 metres last start when the gelding finished fourth behind Bandipur at the Gold Coast on April 3.

“His last run was very good as he’s always suspect over 1200 metres,” Kelly said.

“He had a wide barrier that day and was forced to race wide the whole way and he was beaten just over three lengths.”

Kelly was pleased with Boom Chicka Boom’s performance the day he was beaten by Usmanov.

“He’s freshened up nicely since his last run and I can’t fault him,” Kelly said.

“He’s super fit and has no problems and the weight advantage, although small, is a plus.”

Kelly rates Usmanov, a $350,000 buy at the Magic Millions sales, as the main danger despite the presence of Toowoomba speedster Spurcraft who is topweight with 60kgs.

Usmanov, a son of Choisir, is an older half- brother to Team Edmonds’ smart colt Ruuca who is by Rubick.

Ruuca won against his own age at Moonee Valley in October before failing in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington last spring.

Boom Chicka Boom is bred and raced by former top equestrian Peter McMahon and his wife Michelle who run the Kolora Stud horse complex near Waterford, north of the Gold Coast.

He is a half-brother to Real Surreal who won the 2013 Magic Millions 2YO Classic for the McMahons.

Meanwhile Kelly also expects a strong performance from Freddie Fox Trot in the Benchmark 92 Handicap (1200m).

Freddie Fox Trot has 60.5kgs but Kelly has booked heavyweight apprentice Nick Keal to utilise a three-kilo claim.

Freddie Fox Trot has won eight of his 24 starts and flashed home to run second to Bandipur last start.

“He’s going great and with the claim for Nick he comes into the race really well,” Kelly said.

“In his last run he drew wide and had to cover a lot of extra ground but he hit the line strongly.”

Racing Queensland webnews - April 22