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By Ray Hickson

Boston Underlines Guineas Credentials

Trainer Nathan Doyle says promising three-year-old Boston Rocks did more than enough in his first-up win at Randwick to give him in his chance in the Gosford Guineas after Christmas.

Trainer Nathan Doyle (Pic: Bradley Photos).

While the gelding was always in a striking position in the TAB Handicap (1100m) and so was entitled to win, Doyle suggested there’s still plenty in reserve for the Listed race on December 28.

“It was a good win. He always looked like he had them covered but he only had the one trial going in, I think if he’d had that second trial there would have been a lot more of a ping there,’’ Doyle said.

“He was third but always chasing and working a bit.”

That would explain why Boston Rocks, $2.70 favourite, had a battle to put runner-up Infatuation away until he edged clear late. Doyle said he’ll be suited at the 1200m around Gosford.

“He jumps and puts himself on speed, it’s a good asset to have,’’ he said.

“He’s three from four for us and I think there’s more to come. You’d like a few more like him, he just wants to attack the line.”

Third placed Union Army will go into plenty of black books after he clocked 33.35 (Punter's Intelligence) for his last 600m to snatch the minor placing after turning near the tail of the field.

Eagle Still Amazing In Ryan’s Eyes

It was mathematically impossible for Amazing Eagle to win on debut after he bombed the start so trainer Gerald Ryan said he ran as well as you could expect under the circumstances.

Anode wins at Randwick (Pic: Steve Hart).

What was expected by the market was a comfortable win, as he started $1.60 in the James Squire Handicap (1100m), on the back of a dominant trial performance but it was the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Anode who was straight onto the bunny and didn’t ever look like being beaten.

“You can’t miss the start in two-year-old races. It was still a good even run, he’ll improve from it,’’ Ryan said.

“They ran under 31 for the first 500m, and when they run home in 33.8 you’re not going to pick them up no matter how good they are.”

Ryan’s point about the sectionals is a significant one – when Anode found the lead Rachel King was able to run the race to suit herself and then sprint home in 33.84 (Punter’s Intelligence) including the race’s fastest last 200m (11.53).

Anode is yet another two-year-old winner from the Waterhouse/Bott yard and Adrian Bott is happy to place him in the same sentence as some of their other impressive youngsters this season.

The colt is a $26 chance in the Golden Slipper market with TAB.

"We have some nice colts. When you line up Storm Boy, Straight Charge, Anode, Espionage, Prost and Shangri La Express, there is a bit of depth there which is encouraging to see," Bott said.

"He was very professional, which is what we have seen from him all the way through, and that's the type of performance we were expecting to see. We knew if he could reproduce what he has shown at home, that would give him every opportunity."

Neasham Confirms Zaaki Will Return

Expect to see Annabel Neasham’s warhorse Zaaki race on in 2024.

The nine-year-old narrowly missed a fifth Group 1 in the Northerly Stakes at Ascot in Perth last week.

While naturally disappointed he didn’t get the nose down in front Neasham is adamant there are more wins in store – but perhaps not at the real elite level.

“We’re going to carry on with him, it’s day by day, but maybe we just set our sights that little bit lower,’’ Neasham said.

“James (McDonald) said do not retire this horse, he’s trying and is really happy.

“He hasn’t won all prep but he hasn’t run a bad race. We’ll pick our way with him, I haven’t got any plans as yet.”

Zaaki, who has amassed $11.1 million in prizemoney, is currently spelling at Rosemont Stud in Victoria and will return to training in mid-January.

Grebeni Passes Mini-Big Dance Test

It’s still almost 11 months until the third edition of the Big Dance but talented galloper Grebeni ticked an important box when taking out the Cactus Imaging Handicap over the Randwick mile – the same course as the $3 million country cups feature.

Grebeni gets the job done at Randwick. (Pic: Steve Hart).

The four-year-old has already earned eligibility for the 2024 edition through his victory in the Goulburn Cup and while he’s already won up to 1800m that was in much lesser grade than the field he accounted for on Saturday.

Co-trainer Gerald Ryan said he’ll likely send the gelding around again at the Randwick mile in two weeks.

“We were thinking about going to 2000m but watching that race myself, no I don’t think so,’’ Ryan said.

“A couple of races we aimed him at he never got into this prep so little fish are sweet.”

Grebeni held off the challenge of King Of The Castle, who ran fourth in the 2023 Big Dance, to record his sixth win from 14 starts while Glory Daze kicked back to run second.

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy said the win was a little better than it looks, and the long neck margin would suggest, as he asked Grebeni to do a bit of work sooner than was ideal to ensure he had clear running.

“I have a bit of time for him. I was always confident the Randwick mile was going to suit him, he had to be gritty though because it was a solid test,’’ he said.

Country Championships, Kosciuszko On Quinn’s Radar

Trainer Marc Quinn is setting his sights high with impressive TAB Highway winner Bomarea labelling her “a Kosciuszko” filly after her first-up win at Randwick.

Bomarea wins the TAB Highway. (Pic: Steve Hart)

The three-year-old clocked a slick 56.78 for the 1000m and the Port Macquarie trainer is keen to return in two weeks for a 1200m Highway that will be pivotal for his 2024 plans.

He’s not ruling out aiming at the Newhaven Park Mid North Coast Country Championships at Tuncurry on February 24 but suggested she’s good enough to be aimed higher.

“I’ve always liked her. I had a mare a few years ago called Pentasia, who won a Chief De Beers and placed in the Ramornie, and I think this filly is so untapped,’’ Quinn said.

“I don’t think there’s any reason why she can’t (run 1400m). I think she’s a Kosciuszko filly, and I’d love to develop her into a Ramornie filly.

“Three-year-old fillies don’t go around in it very often but she’s a good filly.”

Connections paid just $6000 for the Dissident filly, she’s now won over $100,000 including BOBS bonuses, and Quinn said he woke at 1am to drive Bomarea to Sydney to beat the heat, arriving prior to 6am.

“She’s done everything on raw ability and she’s just going to get better and better. I reckon she’ll be lethal when she gets to 1200m,’’ he said.

“I really like her, I think she’s an exciting filly.”

All the results and replays from Saturday’s Randwick meeting