He may not share the same striking looks as his famous older brother Storm Boy, but Shangri La Boy is beginning to carve out his own path as a promising racehorse.
The three-year-old colt showed his potential with a front-running victory in the TAB Plate (1400m) at Rosehill on Wednesday, bouncing back after being beaten as favourite on debut at Canterbury last month.
Jockey Adam Hyeronimus, who guided Storm Boy to wins in the 2024 Magic Millions Classic and San Domenico Stakes, said that while Shangri La Boy isn’t a carbon copy, he has his own strong qualities.
“He was a very beautiful horse, Storm Boy. It’s hard to find horses that look like him,” Hyeronimus said.
“But he’s got his own good attributes this horse. He is (by) Pierro, which might need blinkers in time. But what he’s doing at the moment is very nice and I like the way he handles himself.
“He’s so casual, so relaxed, nothing ever bothers him and I’m sure he will build off the back of today’s win.”
Sent out at $7.50, Shangri La Boy dictated the pace and kicked clear to win by 2-1/4 lengths over Nordic Viking ($9), with favourite Providence ($3.30) filling third.
Co-trainer Adrian Bott said the colt had required patience, needing five barrier trials before racing, but was now beginning to put the pieces together.
“He’s going to be a horse that will keep improving as we get out over further. We are just beginning to scratch the surface with his ability,” Bott said.
“We will look to test him. How far we can take him this preparation, I’m not sure, but he’s well and truly got those steps to take in terms of his career.”
Meanwhile, Ciaron Maher produced another smart winner at Rosehill with Ripley in the United Resource Management Handicap (1200m). The Too Darn Hot colt, a $625,000 yearling, holds a nomination for the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) and Maher believes he has plenty of upside.
“First ‘prep’ I probably expected a little bit more but it just didn’t come to hand for him,” Maher said. “He’s a colt. He’s by the right stallion so hopefully he keeps progressing the right way and he probably stretches out a bit further now.
“We will feel our way a little bit. I think he will come on a lot from today. He is still a little bit big and burly but there might be a cheeky stakes race for him.”
Ripley ($3.40 fav) scored stylishly, defeating Onmalone ($12) by two lengths with Chicama ($6) a further neck away in third.
Punters eyeing the Caulfield Guineas or other spring features can find value by comparing odds at Australia’s leading betting sites and most trusted online bookmakers.
