After two runs for his new trainers, Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, the former European galloper Boniface is set to enhance his winning record.
This is contingent on the gelding managing to overcome what Kent Jnr termed a ‘sticky draw’ in Saturday’s Precise Air Handicap (1800m) at Randwick.
Boniface had a successful stint in France, winning three of his five races before relocating to Australia to join the Cranbourne-based stable of Price and Kent Jnr.
Following an initial preparation late last year that progressed to the trialling stage, the four-year-old was gelded and subsequently given another spell.
He made a return to racing with a pleasing fifth-place finish over 1600m at Sandown in May, followed by a second-place effort last start over 1800m at Randwick on June 20.
Kent Jnr mentioned that Boniface had shown good progression since that run and completed an encouraging gallop on Tuesday, which has given the stable renewed confidence for Saturday.
However, drawing barrier 14 in the 15-horse field is not ideal, although he is set to jump from barrier 10 if the four emergencies do not gain a start.
“He was good first-up and he was excellent second-up, so he’s doing a great job in his first Australian preparation,” Kent Jnr remarked.
“He’s drawn sticky on Saturday, but off his work on Tuesday, he’s showing that he’s going very well.”
“It’s a sticky draw because he’s a bit exuberant. We would prefer to be covered up, but you could roll forward but you could undo all the good work by giving him the wrong message and light him up, or you could snag back to last and have too much to do.”
“We’re also not sure about him on a real heavy track. He’s trialled well in the heavy, but I like the horse and he’s going great.”
“If he takes natural improvement from his last start, he will be right in the finish.”
Tyler Schiller, who partnered Boniface when he last raced, will ride him again on Saturday.
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