Racing: Boss puts faith in likely Lad

Glen Boss believes a dead track is the key to extending his outstanding record in the Doncaster Mile. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Glen Boss believes a dead track is the key to extending his outstanding record in the Doncaster Mile to six aboard the David Hayes-trained Largo Lad at Randwick today.

Boss doesn't rate the Melbourne 4-year-old as highly as the first four of his five Doncaster winners but gives him a good hope in the 1600m event with the sting out of the ground.

"Sprint By, Private Steer, Racing To Win and Haradasun were serious group one horses and you couldn't really rate him up with them. He's not quite there yet," Boss said.

Largo Lad drew well in barrier five in the A$2 million ($2.5 million) feature but Boss said it didn't really matter as he would get back and finish on strongly.

"He will get back and run on. He is such a big horse he looks like he can't sprint because he has such a big stride, but he actually has a very good sprint."

"The conditions should suit him and give him his chance."

The jockey won his first Doncaster aboard the Gai Waterhouse-trained Sprint By in 1996 and has won the race four of the last five years on Private Steer (2004) for John O'Shea, Racing To Win (2006) for O'Shea again, Haradasun (2007) for Tony Vasil and Triple Honour in 2008 for Chris Waller.

"You need the best handicapped horse to win the Doncaster," Boss said.

"You don't generally get slowly-run Doncasters. It's usually a pretty tough race and this year Sir Slick should ensure they run along."

Largo Lad began his career with Wangaratta trainer John Ledger and won two races, a Bendigo 1400m maiden and a Moonee Valley 1600m 3-year-old race, from his first seven starts.

After he finished eighth to Weekend Hussler in the 2008 Randwick Guineas (1600m), owner Jim Racovolis sold the gelding to Hayes, Peter Devitt, Les Gordon and Boss' friend Scott Perrin and his wife Rachel.

He had his first run for Hayes when fourth to Dealer Principal in the 2008 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) and was spelled after finishing 15th to Kiwi Nom Du Jeu in the AJC Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick.

He has since won three races, over 1400m on a heavy track at Sandown, a 1200m sprint at Flemington and the group two Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington.

That was his big test to see if he was up to the Doncaster and he passed it with flying colours under 54kg.

The stable's confidence grew even more when he ran on nicely from last for a close sixth to Vision And Power in the George Ryder Stakes (1500m) in heavy going at Rosehill last start.

"He ran the fastest 400 metres of the day," Boss said.

Largo Lad, who will carry 51.5kg, is at A$13 on TAB Sportsbet with last year's Emirates Stakes winner All Silent the dominant A$5.50 favourite.

But Boss rates triple group one winner Theseo (A$11) as the testing material. "I don't think coming back from the 2400 metres of The BMW will worry him," he said. "He's a class horse."

Black Piranha is taking young trainer Con Karakatsanis on the greatest ride of his life and he last night warned punters not to write the horse off today.

TAB Sportsbet has Black Piranha at A$15 for the 1600-metre feature.

"He's great value," Karakatsanis said. "I've chucked him in the deep-end by putting him in at weight-for-age carrying equal weights with group one winners and he really stepped up to the mark and he can do it again."

Black Piranha comes into the race after rocketing home to get within a head of Vision And Power in the George Ryder Stakes on April 4.

Earlier, he was an unlucky two lengths fourth to All Silent in the group two Canterbury Stakes (1300m) in March.

That was the day Karakatsanis knew he had a Doncaster contender on his hands.

"There's been a big buzz in the stable ever since," he said.

Vision And Power continues to thrive and trainer Joe Pride said today's feature was unlikely to be the last of his stunning campaign.

SUNLINE'S DOUBLE

* Kiwi champion Sunline won the Doncaster three years apart in 1999 and 2002 while Fine And Dandy won two years apart in 1961 and 1963.
* Stephen McKee, who co-trained the great mare with his father Trevor, will be represented by strong chance King Mufhasa today.
* Only seven favourites have won the feature in the past 25 years: Emancipation in 1983 (9-4), Vite Cheval the following year (4-1), Sunline in 1999 (10-9) and 2002 (11-4), Private Steer (3-1) in 2004, Racing To Win (7-2) in 2006 and Haradasun (13-4) in 2007.
* Glen Boss has ridden five Doncaster winners: Triple Honour 2008, Haradasun 2007, Racing To Win 2006, Private Steer 2004 and Sprint By in 1996.

- AAP