Star Boy secured a start in black-type company with an on-pace victory in the Aberdeen Cup (1280m) on Sunday.
The son of Vinery sire Pluck started an odds-on favourite and was always in the box-seat for Keagan Latham in the feature race at Muswellbrook. He pounced on the lead at the furlong and was too strong for runner-up Cascata Rossa (Testa Rossa).
Trainer Brett Cavanough will run Star Boy in the $160,000 Ramornie Hcp LR at Grafton on July 10 before setting him for the $1.30 million The Kosciuszko at Randwick on October 19.
The Kosciuszko is the world’s richest race for country-trained horses and fellow Pluck gelding Awesome Pluck has opened on the fourth-line of pre-post markets at $11 behind his stablemate Victorem ($4.50).
“The Ramornie and the Kosciuszko have always been in the back of my mind for Star Boy but he needs to win the Ramornie first,” Cavanough explained. “He should have made top company by now but foot issues have held him back. He’s only been lightly-raced and the owners have been very patient.”
Vinery partner Greg Perry bred Star Boy in partnership with the Pyne family from Cubana Moss (Mossman). The mare hails from the family of Toorak Hcp Gr.1 winner Red Dazzler (Red Ransom).
Cubana Moss is also the dam of Boom Gate (Casino Prince) who motored home to win the Snowden Racing Plate (1750m) for the same connections at Muswellbrook on Sunday. “He will go into the Grafton Guineas without another run,” Cavanough predicted. “That was only his second start and I’ve always thought he would develop into a stayer.”
