French connection aims for another Doomben Cup

By Jordan Gerrans

Reigning Doomben Cup champion Bois D'Argent boasts an obvious French name but the team behind the big grey galloper believe he is as Queensland as it gets these days. 

The now eight-year-old led all the way in the staying Group 1 event from Doomben this time last year to shock plenty as an outsider in the market.

He is back again in 2025, aiming to go back-to-back in the 2000 metre contest.

Bois D'Argent is likely again to be unpopular in the market with big guns such as Antino and Pride Of Jenni heading down the Doomben Cup path this year. 

But, with a big band of local owners cheering on their adopted Queenslander at the track, the price counts for little as they believe he has had a smoother preparation this time around. 

Bois D'Argent is raced by top syndicator Grant Morgan and his OnTrack Thoroughbreds operation.

There are around 40 different owners in the seven-time career winner with the majority of those residing in the Sunshine State.

“We think of ourselves as Queenslanders, we are a bit like Bois D'Argent – we were not born here but we have become part of the furniture here in Queensland,” Morgan said of his team. 

“We are very proud to have the majority of our horses in Queensland – it is our home – and we are proud to play a good part in the winter carnival each year. 

“Our owners are spread out across Australia, but they are predominantly in Queensland.

“There will be a big lot of them at Doomben on Saturday, just as there was last year.”

Bois D’Argent was originally secured in a private sale by Stuart Boman – who is a longtime friend of Morgan’s - of Blandford Bloodstock for OnTrack Thoroughbreds from France.

When the galloper was imported to Australia, he was given the “QLD” branding on his nearside, which Morgan says often captures people's attention.

Gavan Ryan is one of Bois D’Argent’s Queensland-based owners and he is still pinching himself about winning at the elite level last year.

Ryan has horses with a number of trainers around the country and had long waited for a victory like last year’s Doomben Cup front-running romp.

“I have got a number of horses with Grant and obviously this bloke is pretty special,” Ryan said.

“First Group 1-winner for anybody is pretty special.

“I said to Grant that one day I was eventually going to win a Group 1 and he has got it for me inside the first few years that I have been with him.”

The Peregian Springs-based Ryan travelled to Europe with an OnTrack Thoroughbreds tour last year and visited where Bois D’Argent was prepared before he was purchased and transferred to Australia.

“There is nothing like it, getting a Group 1 here last year,” Ryan said.

“Who knows, maybe we can go again for a second time on Saturday.”

Like the Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained Bois D’Argent, Morgan was initially based away from Queensland but has set up shop on the Gold Coast.

Originally hailing from Wollongong, Morgan has built up his OnTrack Thoroughbreds team to 35 horses after famously syndicating star colt Brazen Beau all those years ago.

“We have got 35 horses on the books these days across the three states, but Queensland is our main base,” Morgan said. 

“We have most of the horses with the Archibald team and David Vandyke on the Sunshine Coast.”

The Archibald stable's Brisbane-based assistant trainer Todd Pollard was singled out for praise by Morgan and Ryan, referring to him as a ‘gentleman’.

While Pollard is key around carnival time with gallopers such as Bois D’Argent, the owners note that he is also crucial to their operation with other horses outside of the busy winter months.

Pollard believes Bois D’Argent ran well in the recent Hollindale Stakes and says he will be cherry ripe for Saturday.

“They have been great supporters of Annabel and Rob from the early beginning,” Pollard said of the OnTrack Thoroughbreds team. 

“They do import a few horses from Europe, which Annabel has had a lot of success with following the deeds of Zaaki.

“We seem to find we get a lot of European imports into the stable and it suits the way she trains, getting some speed and life back into these older horses who are imported from Europe.

“Grant and his team have been fantastic and we have been lucky to have Bois D'Argent who has really gone on it with since he has been here.

“He has been a really nice horse for the stable.”

Stablemates Fawkner Park and My Oberon will also represent the Archibald camp in the Doomben Cup.

Morgan says Doomben is personally his favourite track and he cannot wait to get back to the facility on Saturday.

“It was a really memorable day and we all went into last year’s race with high hopes,” he said of last year’s Doomben Cup.

“He flew under the radar a bit last year in terms of his price and he continues to do that.

“We were all so excited he got the photo decision in a really narrow win.

“It would mean a great deal for us to win the race again as this year’s edition is much harder than 2024.

“He is going to have to go up to another level, but he does not know how to run a bad race this guy, he tries his heart out and I am sure he will do the same this year.”

As of Wednesday morning, Bois D'Argent is a $18 chance with bookmakers in the Doomben Cup.

The Archibald team have already had a stunning winter campaign so far in 2025, claiming last week’s Doomben 10,000 as well as the recent Queensland Guineas and Victory Stakes.