Boom Time shapes up for the spring

BOOM Time’s quest to become the first horse to win consecutive Caulfield Cups since Rising Fast 63 years ago kicks off at Flemington today, with trainer/owner David Hayes confident the unscheduled round-the-world trip following last year’s Japan Cup has not affected the horse.

The six-year-old gelding, who won last year’s Caulfield Cup at $51, hasn’t raced since finishing 12th in the Japan Cup in November. But a quarantine logjam in Australia late last year meant he had to go from Japan to Germany and then on to England before ultimately 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 in the late autumn, starting with today’s Living Legends Mick Mallyon Handicap, before having a brief let-up ahead of the Spring Carnival.

He was sharpened up with a nice trial win at Tatura on April 17, with Hayes 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,” Hayes said.

He always planned to give Boom Time a light autumn, saying a trip to Sydney for The Championships was never an option.

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

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

Boom Time was the family’s fourth Caulfield Cup winner, after How Now (1976), Fraar (1993) and Tawqeet (2006).