Boniface, piloted as the most fancied runner, finally rewarded the unwavering support of punters with a victory in the Group 3 $250,000 Premier’s Cup (2000m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
The French import had encountered a run of poor luck in his four previous Australian starts, but accomplished jockey Tommy Berry guided the gelding with confidence, proving superior to his rivals.
Berry removed luck from the equation by positioning Boniface in second place, just behind So You Are, maintaining this advantage until well into the home straight.
Boniface then took control of the race and won with authority, indicating he is a horse to follow throughout the spring carnival.
“We got the first half too easy and Rachel’s (King, rider of So You Are) has got a beautiful knack of getting horses into a lovely rhythm, slipping you down the side and you can’t get her back,” Berry said. “So, I just had to make sure I was close enough without trying to get to the front too early on my bloke.
“When they haven’t won for a while, they lack a little bit of confidence and he needed that today, so I’m sure he’ll go on with it now.”
Berry, who was the new rider for Boniface, made sure to acknowledge the significant input of the gelding’s former jockey, Tyler Schiller, in the Premier’s Cup success.
“I’ve got to say, full credit to Tyler, who’s ridden him at his last couple,” Berry stated. “He obviously didn’t get the ride today, but he came around and saw me and told me everything I needed to know about the horse. That just shows what a top bloke he is, and he’ll obviously get his turn.”
Boniface ($2.45 favourite), trained by Mick Price and Michael Kent Junior, outclassed leader So You Are ($3.60) by half a length, with Matusalem ($8) securing third place just a short head behind.
Ben Elam, the Sydney stable representative for Price and Kent, commented that Boniface’s victory was a clear demonstration of his emerging talent.
“We had to feel our way with him trying to get into this race,” Elam said. “It’s a race that always has some nice horses in it but it doesn’t get a massive field every year so we thought he was a chance of getting a run.
“We got the run on Monday with nominations being a little bit skinny. He’s trained on really well, we haven’t done a lot with him as he’s a highly strung horse, albeit he is relaxed.
“He puts a lot into his work so we don’t do much galloping with him. He’s a French import that we have had to ‘unwind’ a little bit.
“So, it was really good to see him relax outside the leader. I would like to see him with a bum in front of him so he can follow and be dragged into the race.
“He did a pretty good job and hit the line strongly so we are very pleased.”
Elam added that there was considerable merit in Boniface’s win, describing the gelding as “definitely a better chaser, for sure.”
“But I said to Tommy I don’t care where you land just get him to relax,” Elam stated. “If he finds a rhythm he will give you that sharp turn of foot he has got and he can sustain the gallop.
“I know he didn’t win by a big margin but I think you can say this horse has won by a margin that was respective of the run he had in transit.”
Elam indicated that Boniface is likely to contest the Group 2 $300,000 Kingston Town Stakes at Royal Randwick on September 12, followed by the Group 2 $2 million Hill Stakes at Rosehill Gardens on October 10.
Betting markets for the Premier’s Cup are available on various Australian betting sites.
