Bosustow bouncing back to his best for Stradbroke tilt

By Andrew Smith

The team behind Bosustow say they are leaving “no stone unturned” as they push towards glory in this Saturday’s Stradbroke Handicap.

Co-trainer Annabel Archibald and jockey Zac Lloyd put the three-year-old colt through his paces on a chilly Tuesday morning at Eagle Farm.

The young hoop will partner Bosustow for the first time this weekend.

The morning trackwork session provided an opportunity for the pair to build a connection ahead of the $3 million Group 1 event.

Archibald, who trains in partnership with husband Rob, said it had proved to be a valuable session for both jockey and horse.

“His work was great and Zac came up from Sydney to have a sit on him, so we are trying to leave no stone unturned,” Archibald said.

“Zac said he was glad he came and did that, because he said it's filled him with confidence, that was the feeling Bosustow gave him this morning.

“He’s a really honest horse, and he’s obviously been placed twice at Group 1 level - we're missing that Group 1 with him so if we can win the Stradbroke, it'll mean a lot.”

It’s a tactic that proved to be a winning one for young gun Lloyd in his breakthrough 2024 Stradbroke victory.

The 21-year-old rode Stefi Magnetica in trackwork on the Tuesday and got a feel for the Eagle Farm course, before taking out his first Group 1 days later.

Lloyd is hoping history will repeat itself in the state’s premier race this weekend.

“I enjoyed this morning last year galloping Stefi, and riding Bosustow this morning he felt equally as good, so hopefully we can get a similar result,” Lloyd said.

“It was the first time I've sat on him – he’s a lovely colt obviously, and he’s quite worthy for his connections and Annabel.

“He's won some big races, so to get a Group 1 on his resume would be very special and hopefully we can get the job done.”

Lloyd admits it was special returning to the scene of his maiden Group 1 win in last year’s Queensland Racing Carnival.

It was legendary hoop Jimmy Cassidy who last went back-to-back in the Stradbroke with Rough Habit in 1991 and 1992.

The young hoop is well aware of the magnitude of the task ahead of him to replicate that record, as well as attempting it at venue that now holds extra special significance for him.

“It would obviously be good to win, but every jockey between myself and Jimmy Cassidy has had the opportunity to go back to-back after they've won, so it's obviously not an easy feat,” Lloyd said.

“We'll be doing our best and I think I'm on the right horse - I was booked in quite early for this ride, I was confident to ask for this ride early, and I'm very happy with the horse I’m on.

“To win the Stradbroke and to come back to Queensland was quite sentimental for me.

“My parents, they don't go to any meetings and I convinced them to come to the Stradbroke so when they were here and I was able to see them after the race, it was special. 

“This place definitely holds a piece of my heart, and hopefully we can get back-to-back.”

It will take a mighty effort for Bosustow to bounce back from a disappointing run in the Fred Best Classic at Doomben last week.

The colt finished sixth in that race, with winner Spicy Martini booking a direct passage into the Stradbroke with victory in the Group 3 event.

Bosustow was out to a $15 chance as of Tuesday afternoon, but Archibald said the colt would be peaking for this weekend.

“Obviously we would have liked to have won the Fred Best with him, but just being put back from the Saturday to the Wednesday just probably had him slightly underdone,” Archibald said.

“He didn't gallop at the weekend, but we purposely didn't, because I wanted the run to bring him on and then to still be able to give him a piece of work this morning.

“The Grand Final’s always been the Stradbroke, we've worked backwards from that and we want him to peak third-up. 

“It was a massive first-up run, so maybe just the sort of typical slightly flat second-up run. He had no excuses that day, to be fair. 

“But I think back here to Eagle Farm suits and obviously it’s a totally different race.

“It’s going to be a big field, high pressure, and we've got a very lightweight, so he won't know himself with 51.5 kg on his back.”

The Archibald stable will also have Mortal Halo go around in the Group 1 J J Atkins, with Lloyd also booked for that ride.

Annabel will also be looking to continue the success she has enjoyed in the Group 2 Q22 over the last few years.

Training under her maiden name Neasham, she has won the $1.2 million event three of the last four years with Zaaki in 2021, Numerian in 2022 and Fawkner Park in 2024.

Last year’s winner Fawkner Park will also be looking to go back-to-back after finishing behind a dominant Antino in the Doomben Cup late last month.

“Yeah it's been kind to me…it's been a great race to us. Obviously on our home track, it's always a race we try and target,” Archibald said.

“I'm really happy with Fawkner Park, he's had a great prep.

“Antino was in a league of his own in the Doomben Cup, but Fawkner Park was the best of the rest, and it's probably going to be a similar sort of field here on Saturday, minus Antino.

“I feel it's his race to lose, but I just need to see him perform as he has all prep. 

 “If he can perform like he has all prep, then I think he's a great chance and I think back to Eagle Farm suits. 

“I think the drier the track is probably the better with him, and obviously up an extra furlong probably suits as well.”

Archibald was also not discounting stablemate and 2024 Doomben Cup winner Bois D’argent.

The grey gelding is coming off a fifth-place finish in this year’s Cup, having finished third behind Fawkner Park and Melbourne Cup champion Knight’s Choice in the 2024 Q22

“He's just a very honest horse makes his own luck up on speed,  I thought his run in the Doomben Cup was actually very good,” Archibald said.

“He's a horse that goes forward and there was a lot of speed - he was one of the only horses, probably where he settled in the run that actually was still there somewhat in the finish. 

“He's just a really tough, honest horse and he worked very well this morning. 

“He's always probably a better workhorse than Fawkner Park, but he goes there in great shape.”