22-05-2025
OnTrack to get behind French connection again
BRISBANE - Reigning Doomben Cup champion Bois D'Argent boasts an obvious French name, but the team behind the big grey galloper believe he is as Queensland as it gets these days.
The now eight-year-old led all the way under Blake Shinn in the Group 1 staying event over 2,000m from Doomben this time last year to shock plenty as an outsider.
Though a four-time winner in France when trained by Marco Botti, including one at Listed level in a mile race at Longchamp in October 2021, Bois D'Argent - which means Silver Woods in French - did not quite set Australia alight with only one win in the Listed Mayors Cup (2,000m) until his Doomben Cup coup.
He has since struggled in Group 1 races, but did notch a Group 3 win in the JRA Plate (2,000m) at Randwick on April 19 before a sixth place to Antino in the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes (1,800m) on the Gold Coast at his last start on May 10.
He is now aiming to go back-to-back in the Doomben Cup, but is again likely to be unpopular in a market skewed towards the Pride Of Jenni v Antino duel in the A$1 million (S$831,000) race this year.
But, with a big band of local owners cheering on their adopted Queenslander at the track, the price counts for little as they believe he has had a smoother preparation this time around.
Bois D'Argent is raced by top syndicator Grant Morgan and his OnTrack Thoroughbreds operation, better known for racing Brazen Beau, now a leading sire.
There are around 40 different owners in the seven-time career winner with the majority of those residing in the Sunshine State.
"We think of ourselves as Queenslanders, we're a bit like Bois D'Argent. We weren't born here, but we've become part of the furniture here in Queensland," said Morgan.
"We're very proud to have the majority of our horses in Queensland - it's our home - and we're proud to play a good part in the winter carnival each year.
"Our owners are spread out across Australia, but they're predominantly in Queensland.
"There will be a big lot of them at Doomben on Saturday, just as there was last year."
Bois D'Argent was originally secured in a private sale by Stuart Boman - who is a long-time friend of Morgan's - of Blandford Bloodstock for OnTrack Thoroughbreds from France.
Gavan Ryan, one of Bois D'Argent's new owners, travelled to Europe with an OnTrack Thoroughbreds tour in 2024, visiting where the English-bred son of Toronado was prepared before he was bought and moved to Australia.
"I said to Grant that one day I was eventually going to win a Group 1 and he has got it for me inside the first few years that I have been with him," said Ryan.
"There is nothing like it, getting a Group 1 here last year. Who knows, maybe we can go again for a second time on Saturday."
One of the persons Morgan and Ryan praised for Bois D'Argent's handling was trainers Annabel and Rob Archibald's Brisbane front man Todd Pollard.
The assistant trainer believes Bois D'Argent ran well in the recent Group 2 Hollindale Stakes (1,600m) when sixth to Antino, and said he would be cherry-ripe for Saturday.
"They have been great supporters of Annabel and Rob from the early beginning," said Pollard of the OnTrack Thoroughbreds team. "They do import a few horses from Europe, which Annabel has had a lot of success with following the deeds of Zaaki.
"European imports are suited by the way she trains, getting some speed and life back into these older horses.
"Grant and his team have been fantastic and we have been lucky to have Bois D'Argent who has really gone on with it since he has been here. He has been a really nice horse for the stable."
Stablemates Fawkner Park and My Oberon will also represent the Archibalds in the Doomben Cup.
Morgan said the task is stiffer on Saturday, but his horse is a fighter.
"He'll have to go up to another level, but he doesn't know how to run a bad race this guy. He tries his heart out and I'm sure he'll do the same this year," he said.
Bois D'Argent is a 17-1 chance in pre-race market. Ryan Maloney takes the ride while Shinn is unsurprisingly sticking with his winning Hollindale ride, Antino.
The Archibald team have already had a stunning winter campaign so far in 2025, claiming last week's Group 1 Doomben 10,000 with Sunshine In Paris as well as the recent Group 2 Queensland Guineas with Depth Of Character and Group 2 Victory Stakes with Libertad.
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