Premier's Cup Prelude target for Boniface on better ground
Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr's preference is to see the dual-nominated Boniface compete in Sydney this Saturday, contingent on the lightly raced galloper securing a spot in their primary race selection.
With a current domestic rating of 81, Boniface is positioned 16th in the order of entry for the Premier's Cup Prelude (1800m) at Randwick, which has a field cap of 13 runners.
Should the Northern Hemisphere four-year-old successfully gain a start, Michael Kent Jnr expressed confidence in the horse's readiness to display his best form, particularly if presented with firmer racing conditions.
"He's more likely going to be racing in Sydney in the Premier's Cup Prelude and then hopefully onto the Premier's Cup," Kent Jnr explained.
"I hope he gets a run but you never quite know with a low rating, and we always just hedge our bets.
"It's a free nomination in Melbourne, you can easily travel down here if you have to. But if we could get a run in Sydney, that would be the go.
"I was up there during the week, it's fine and sunny, and it's fine and sunny all week, which will be very different to last start where he was on a heavy 25 at Randwick so he won't know himself."
Despite a near year-long layoff before his local debut at Sandown Hillside in May, Kent Jnr highlighted the horse's rapid acclimatisation, noting two second-place finishes in Benchmark 88 events leading into the weekend's engagement.
"He's ready to win," Kent Jnr declared.
"I would say he has hit the ground running much faster than a lot of imports, he's taken to life in Australia quite well.
"Importantly he's got to turn a foot for a horse that wants to get over 2,000 metres. It was a very good run at Sandown, and then he's run two excellent seconds in Sydney running on both times.
"The only trick with him, he wants to be a little bit keen in running, so it's just about switching him off and then letting him rip home.
"Tyler Schiller sticks, down the weights, and it'll be a nice race for him."
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