a day ago
Prince of Boom could be retired if he doesn't show enough in Wednesday's 2025 Ramornie Handicap
Ramornie Handicap contender Prince Of Boom could be retired unless he can rediscover his old form in the $200,000 Listed race over 1200m at Grafton on Wednesday.
The Robert Heathcote -trained gelding, who has been battling hoof issues, hasn't won since taking out the Group 3 WJ Healy Stakes (1200m) two years ago.
And jockey Aaron Bullock faces a monumental challenge to win the time-honoured sprint on the six-year-old after Prince Of Boom drew gate 20 (including emergencies).
Heathcote's fellow Brisbane trainer Kelly Schweida scratched Metalart from the Ramornie on Monday afternoon after the last-start WJ Healy Stakes winner drew barrier 19.
Metalart was a $5.50 chance with bookmakers before the barrier draw.
The race favourite is the Richard Litt -trained gelding Barber ($4, barrier four), with the ex-Godolphin sprinter's most recent victory coming in the $250,000 Listed Takeover Target Stakes (1200m) at Gosford on May 10.
Heathcote spoke to Racenet on Monday from the Rocky Mountains in Canada, where he is holidaying with his family, and admitted Prince Of Boom faced a rocky future if he couldn't turn around his fortunes on Wednesday.
The son of Spirit Of Boom finished last in the WJ Healy on June 28 at Eagle Farm.
Heathcote will also saddle up The Big Goodbye in the Ramornie, which the gelding won as a five-year-old in 2023.
The Big Goodbye has been freshened up nicely after suffering a stone bruise in his hoof that led to an infection, similar to what happened to star stablemate Rothfire in the lead-up to the $3m Stradbroke Handicap last month.
'It's fair to say they're past their best but if they can recover some of their past form then they're going to be competitive,' Heathcote said about his pair, who are both $11 in the market.
Prince Of Boom goes bang in W.J Healy Stakes! @clarkyhk the king of front running rides delivers again for Robert Heathcote who trains the quinella.
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 24, 2023
'Prince Of Boom is a $1.4 million earner and on his best day, he would beat these but he's a horse that suffers from chronic hoof issues.
'He's an ongoing source of frustration but I reckon we've got him right going into this race.
'I can shout from the highest mountain saying 'he's spot-on' but we won't really know until he's under pressure at the 300m mark.
'It's a hard race so my two will have to step up and be counted. Certainly Prince of Boom, his future is clouded unless he can recover his old form.
'His desire is still there but his feet are causing him problems.'
The Big Goodbye overhauls a very brave Ranges in the 2023 Ramornie!
Martin Harley with a peach for the Robert Heathcote yard!
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 12, 2023
Schweida had never entered a horse into the Ramornie Handicap before this week but he was ready to have a crack with Metalart until the barrier draw cruelled his hopes of vying for the winner's $109,000 in prizemoney.
In a wide-open race, there are five gallopers in the market at $8 or under. They are Barber ($4), Compelling Truth ($5), Midnight In Tokyo, Sha Of Gomer and Tribeca Star (all $8).
Leading Sydney trainer Peter Snowden has won the Ramornie six times, either solo or with his son Paul, including last year with Ka Bling, but does not have a horse in this year's edition.
