Emotional trainer Chris Anderson looked to the skies and asked for help from his late father Mervyn before Ballistic Boy (Smart Missile) snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in the Doomben Mile on Friday.
Punters were prepared to take on Ballistic Boy who eased from $1.80 to $2.25 and the betting drift looked to be on the money when the four-year-old gelding was last and so far off the leaders he could barely see them.
Jockey Matt McGillivray was getting desperate as leader Snitch looked to have pinched it upfront but Anderson’s prayers paid off when his galloper surged late and won from a near impossible position.
It was a pick-me-up for the Brisbane trainer who recently lost his father Mervyn, a former boatbuilder and champion sailor, after a battle with prostate cancer.
“I looked to the skies and I asked for a bit of Dad’s help to be honest, and he delivered,” Anderson said, as he wiped away tears post-race.
“It was a pretty emotional win.”
Ballistic Boy has now put two wins in a row on the board after winning the Mooloolaba Cup in his previous outing and he will be targeted towards the $1 million Subzero (2400m) on Gold Coast Magic Millions day next month.
Also at Friday’s Doomben twilight meeting, jockey Michael Rodd claimed his first metropolitan race since relocating permanently to Queensland at the start of the month, winning on board Les Ross filly Mishani Miss and then claiming a riding double on Perfect Aim.
Another former Melbourne Cup winning jockey, Glen Boss, arrived back in his former home state on Friday morning, looking every bit the Queenslander in a T-shirt and things when he was greeted at the airport by Brisbane Racing Club officials.
Boss has eight rides at Eagle Farm on Saturday, the first time he has ridden at the track since he won the Tatt’s Cup on Vow And Declare in June last year, with the Danny O’Brien stayer winning the Melbourne Cup less than five months later.
The Eagle Farm track has been plagued by recurring troubles since 2014 but has generally performed well in 2020, returning to racing on Saturday after a planned 10-week renovation.
Up to 20mm of forecast rain on raceday has thrown a spanner in the works but Boss has given Queensland’s premier track a tick of approval and believes it will race fairly and punters will be able to bet with confidence.
Article courtesy of Racenet
