Round the world and back for crack at Cup

BOOM Time’s quest to become the first horse since Rising Fast 63 years ago to win consecutive Caulfield Cups starts at Flemington today.

Trainer-owner David Hayes is confident an unscheduled roundthe-world trip after the Japan Cup has not affected Boom Time.

The six-year-old gelding, a $51 winner of last year’s Caulfield Cup, has not raced since finishing 12th in the Japan Cup in November.

A quarantine logjam in Australia meant he had to go from Japan to Germany and then on to England before returning home.

“I am very confident the trip has actually done him the world of good,” Hayes said.

“He is better in his skin and he looks more healthy than he has ever looked.”

Boom Time will have two runs, starting with today’s Living Legends Mick Mallyon Handicap, then a brief let-up before the spring carnival.

He was sharpened up with a nice trial win at Tatura on April 17 and Hayes is confident he will run well today despite the heavy weight impost, which is offset by Fred Kersley’s 2kg claim.

“He has got to carry some weight, but he is in good form and his trials have been good, so I am sure he can run well,” he said.

Hayes had planned to give Boom Time a light autumn and The Championships in Sydney was never an option.

“He doesn’t go on the Sydney leg (clockwise),” he said.

“The plan was always to give him a run or two, and then put him aside for the Caulfield Cup.”