Exciting three-year-old Blackjack Boom overcame a heavy weight burden to score at the Sunshine Coast in impressive fashion on Saturday.
Toby Edmonds was thrilled with the win of Blackjack Boom who is now heading towards a rich Gold Coast race, but it would have been nothing compared to the excitement of larrikin owner Mike Crooks had his runner-up at big odds prevailed.
That was the story of the QTIS 3YO Handicap (1000m) on the Sunshine Coast Saturday, with Blackjack Boom ($7.50) holding off the green but fast finishing Crooks-owned and Les Ross-trained outsider Mishani Sniper ($61).
With his horses famous for their ‘Mishani’ moniker, Crooks had a good betting collect with the place dividend for Mishani Sniper but it could have been much better.
“It was my birthday last week and we would have had another very long birthday party had we won that,” Crooks laughed.
But to the winners go the spoils and Blackjack Boom’s win was even more meritorious given the gelding was lumped with topweight of 59kg and had to jump from the widest barrier.
Blackjack Boom has enjoyed a promising start to his career, with his record now standing at four wins from five starts, and he is heading towards the riches of next month’s $500,000 QTIS 3YO Jewel on the Gold Coast.
“He did a little wrong when he was first-up the other day, he wandered off on the corner and might have turned on the wrong leg and just got a little tired,” Edmonds, who co-trains with son Trent, said.
“He got a little tired again today, but to beat those horses with that weight was a really good effort.
“With 59kg and barrier 12 of 12, it doesn’t normally happen that you win like that but we got away with it today and Robbie (Fradd) rode beautifully.
“Going to the Jewel has been the plan for a while now, so we will head there and see how we go.”
Meanwhile, Toowoomba trainer Rex Lipp is now daring to dream of further success at next month’s Jewel raceday on the Gold Coast.
Lipp won last year’s 3YO Jewel with Simply Fly and now has two-year-old filly Burnish Gold in the frame for the 2YO Jewel on March 19.
Burnish Gold, a cheap online buy, franked Lipp’s good opinion of her when winning the QTIS 2YO Handicap (1000m) on the Sunshine Coast in strong style as she took her record to two wins from three starts.
“We picked her up at an online auction, she was only about $7,000,” Lipp, who co-trains with Nicholas Hahn, said.
“She is in the Jewel now, with the prizemoney she has won today.
“I won the 3YO Jewel last year, with Simply Fly, and I can’t see a standout two-year-old this year for the 2YO Jewel.
“This filly is so relaxed, she is a big strong filly and she has never been any hassle. I really like her.”
Originally published as Sunshine Coast: Blackjack Boom on track for next month’s rich 3YO Jewel on the Gold Coast