3 minute read

Sunshine Coast held several feature races on Saturday which included the Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m) taken out by New Zealand galloper Megablast.

Megablast, who has now won 10 of his 31 starts, ran out a three length winner over First Crush in second with the favourite Tradseman just under a length further back in third.

Six of his 10 wins have now come on a heavy track and the six-year-old grey gelding ran to a new career peak Timeform figure of 112, one pound above his third placing the start prior in the Group 2 P.J O’Shea behind Egg Tart.

Megablast measures up well to recent winners of the race and is the equal second highest rated winner with only 2015 winner Index Linked running a higher figure (115).

First Crush who finished runner up to Tradesman in the Ipswich Cup the start prior continued his strong recent form with another placing but only managed a Timeform rating of 98, seven pounds below his Ipswich Cup effort.

Tradesman who was backing up for the third week in a row battled on gamely for third with the 59kg and ran to a Timeform figure of 107, four pounds below his Ipswich Cup win.

Megablast is likely to remain in Brisbane and will look to line up in the Group 3 Queen’s Trophy (3200m) on July 16 and should have no issues with the two miles.

Earlier in the day, The Bostonian made it two impressive wins in as many weeks, taking out the Group 3 Sunshine Coast Guineas.

From the yard of New Zealand trainer Tony Pike, The Bostonian has come back in outstanding order this campaign winning all three starts and certainly looks one to watch going forward.

Settling just off the leaders, jockey Michael Cahill edged closer on the turn. Cruising into second at the 300m before taking over at the 200m, The Bostonian put the race away with ease over the final stages.

Bold Assassin did enough to grab second with Go Dixie third in front of the once again luckless Mishani Bullitt.

The Bostonian returned a Timeform figure of 100, two pounds above his win the start prior but four pounds below his first up win in the Listed Daybreak Lover.

That race had proved a very strong formline with Winter Bride and Shogun Sun also coming out of that race to win at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.

Despite running a figure below the last three winners of the race which includes Winx in 2015 (107), The Bostonian looks to have a very bright future ahead and now that he has shown he can handle the mile, that opens up plenty of options in the spring.

The final stakes race of the day saw the very impressive Jamaican Rain bring up her third win in as many starts this campaign in the Listed Glasshouse Handicap (1400m).

Having won two races in Victoria, the Richard Lamming-trained runner headed north and settling up on the speed, put the race away at the 250m after Tegan Harrison gave her a shake, running out a dominant winner over Privlaka in second with River Racer third.

The lightly raced five-year-old mare who has now won six of her 11 starts returned a clear new career peak Timeform figure of 111, 12 pounds above her previous win at Moonee Valley.

Jamaican Rain is the first mare to win the race since it’s inception in 1998 and rates well clear of 2017 winner Monsieur Gustave (105).

Jamaican Rain will now be aimed at some Group 1 races during the spring in Melbourne and with just the 11 starts to her name is open to further improvement.

It only looks a matter of time until Winter Bride secures a black-type win following a dominant win in the Boq Mooloolaba Handicap (1200m).

Settling around midfield, Winter Bride was stoked up out wide by James Orman at the 300m, taking the lead at the 200m to run out a three length winner Crystal Amor with Enterprise March a further two lengths back in third.

Winter Bride, a well bred three-year-old returned a clear new career peak Timeform figure of 105, 11 pounds above his previous two outings which includes a third to The Bostonian in the Daybreak Lover.

Having improved significantly this campaign, Winter Bride was certainly a cut above her rivals on Saturday and is one to keep an eye on going forward.