Star Boy has pulled up super since his all-the-way victory in the Skellatar Sprint (1000m) at Muswellbrook on Friday.

It was a reassuring return-to-form for the Pluck sprinter following a mysterious first-up failure at Eagle Farm last month.  “He came home and licked out the feed-bin,” trainer Brett Cavanough said on Sunday.  “That win will bump him up in the ratings and we will look for some back-type next month.

“Hopefully, the racing landscape allows us to target the (LR) Ramornie Hcp at Grafton.  He was beaten a nose last year and it’s our goal again this campaign.”

Star Boy paid his dues in 2019 picking off the Satellite Hcp (1200m) at Parkes, Aberdeen Cup (1280m) at Muswellbrook and Shay Brennan Showcase (1200m) at Tamworth prior to the narrow loss at Grafton.

Cavanough has some unfinished business with Star Boy in the Ramornie after coming close with The Monstar in the previous two editions of the feature sprint.  “He’s only been lightly-raced and should have already made top company.  Foot issues held him back as a younger horse and I have to thank the owners for being so patient.”

Star Boy is a homebred for Vinery partner Greg Perry and Dave Pyne and his record now stands at 7 wins in 20 starts for prizemoney of $275,905.  “Greg has been a great supporter of the stable,” Cavanough said.  “He always has a nice horse in the pipeline and I’ve been very happy with the progress of Star Boy’s two siblings this season.”

Younger half-brother Boom Gate (Casino Prince) was runner-up at Rosehill last month and his 2yo half-sister is an unnamed filly by Al Maher.  Their dam Cubana Moss (Mossman) hails from the family of Toorak Hcp Gr.1 winner Red Dazzler (Red Ransom) and she is currently in foal to All Too Hard.

Star Boy is one of 9 Stakes performers by Pluck (More Than Ready) who has sired 96 individual winners of 257 races in his first four crops at Vinery.