Youngster’s form is music to Boody’s ears

By Josh Spasaro

Michael Boody admits he was pleasantly surprised with Sing My Song’s performance on debut, winning his Rockhampton Maiden 1000 heat by four-and-a-quarter lengths last Wednesday night.

He did that from box two, crossing the line in 23.84 seconds in the 407 metre event.

But, the 19-month-old dog will start from box six this week, which will mean a step-up in difficulty when jumping out from the lids for the $7,900 decider on Wednesday night.

“He surprised us a little bit when he won that (heat) race,” Boody said.

“The dog that had the seven alley (Speakeasy who finished runner-up) last week began well. And, I do think the winner will come from either one or seven.”

Boody was pleased with Sing My Song’s effort on debut.

“He had the inside. He stuck with the fence. He ran his race and his time,” he said.

Boody believes his juvenile chaser showed enough potential last start to go on and earn some good prizemoney in the next couple of years.

“Like everything, you hope they develop and go forward. He surprised us a little bit last time. With luck he might surprise us again,” he said.

“But, if he doesn’t, I won’t be disappointed.

“He ran fast enough to be competitive in fifth grade all his life. If we can keep him on the track for two years, he’ll get a lot of money.”

Sing My Song is by Group 1-winner Aston Rupee and out of Boody’s broodbitch, Love You Peaches, who won 26 races from 67 starts.

Boody and his wife Amber own the six-year-old and he said they were always striving to produce a city-class chaser.

“We own them, we breed them. And, anything that happens is all due to Amber or I,” he said.

“It’s like the racehorses. You’re looking to just breed a good animal and have it come through and go on.

“Amber and I have been successful, but we’ve never really struck that good one.

“We’ve had a lot of half-handy dogs for the areas we’ve lived in, but we’ve always been looking for that one who’s too good for where we live and ends up in the Melbourne Cup, or with a Melbourne trainer.”

Boody said he would be delighted for fellow trainer Phil Sear if his 18-month-old dog Tusken Raider – who he and Amber own – can salute from box one in the Rockhampton Maiden 1000 Final.

“I gave the one dog to a good friend of mine who helps me a lot,” he said.

“And, if he wins it, I’ll be so happy for him. It’s one out of Zip Stream and at 400 metres, Zip Stream was a faster bitch than Love You Peaches.

“Both litters of pups are running around the same.”

Meanwhile, Boody said he liked the look of his 22-month-old Riding Solo, who is by Flying Ricciardo and out of Butterly Is She, a bitch that he and Amber trained to five wins from 74 starts.

“The Love You Peaches and Zip Stream litters, they’re our youngest ones and they’re our best hopes. We’ve got another dog, Riding Solo, that goes quite all right,” he said.

“He looks all right around here in the lower grades. But, I’m a realist. I don’t think I’ll be putting him in the Melbourne Cup just yet.

“He’s had seven starts for four wins. I’ve (also) got More Peaches who won the Townsville Cup. I’ve got to breed a litter with her.”

The veteran conditioner added his physical condition had improved since having operations to improve his blood circulation.

“I’ve probably got the best health I’ve had in the past 15 years,” he said.