Boom to explode following poor run

WHILE much attention was focused on Group 1-winning stablemate Rothfire in another race, Queensland trainer Rob Heathcote insists stablemate Prince Of Boom was a clear forgive run in his Melbourne debut.

Group 2 winner Prince Of Boom started hard in the betting market as the $5 favourite in the Listed Chautauqua Stakes at The Valley on September 3 – but little went right.

After Rothfire got a peach of a run and won two races earlier, rider Craig Williams surprisingly allowed Prince Of Boom to drift back and he was wide and had little chance.

Williams reported postrace to stewards the Queensland gelding may not have been suited by racing the Melbourne way of going.

But Heathcote (pictured), who has booked Damian Lane to ride Prince Of Boom in a 1100m Handicap at Caulfield on Saturday, said nothing went right in his Melbourne debut.

Lane rode Prince Of Boom at trackwork on Tuesday and declared him on song to make a Melbourne statement.

“Damian Lane said he loved Prince Of Boom, he was on his Melbourne leg the whole way,” Heathcote said. “Nothing went right from the gate last time.”

Prince Of Boom will have plenty of challenges to overcome at Caulfield on Saturday – drawing wide again and with some top-calibre sprinters among the acceptances.

The 2021 Spirit Of Boom Classic winner kept stringing the wins together earlier this year after returning from throat surgery and he now must prove he can strut his stuff in Melbourne.

“It’s a good race this race on Saturday and my horse hasn’t proven himself yet outside of Queensland,” Heathcote said.

“But there was plenty of forgive about his first-up run in Melbourne.

“I really like the fact Damian Lane is riding him.”

Meanwhile, Rothfire is the $4.50 favourite for Friday week’s Group 1 Moir Stakes after his slashing first-up Melbourne win.