Boston Rocks becomes latest southern raider selected for King Of The Mountain slot race

The King Of The Mountain slot race wasn’t in NSW trainer Matt Dale’s thoughts until he received an unexpected offer for his gun sprinter.

Boston Rocks, winning at The Valley earlier this month, has been picked up for the King Of The Mountain slot race. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

Lightly-raced gelding Boston Rocks will join fellow southern raider It’sourtime in the $750,000 King Of The Mountain slot race in Toowoomba next Friday.

Sheralee Racing has selected Goulburn flyer Boston Rocks for its slot in the 1200m sprint, with Rockhampton rocket Chinny Boom also confirmed for the rich race at Clifford Park.

Luke Berger Racing and High Calibre Racing have used their slot for Victorian gelding It’sourtime, who has been transferred from Danny O’Brien’s stable to Toowoomba trainer Pat Webster.

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Goulburn trainer Matt Dale said the KOTM was not a contest he initially envisaged for four-year-old Boston Rocks, who is coming off wins in his past two starts – Benchmark 78 races at The Valley on March 7 and Rosehill last month.

“We didn’t see this coming,” Dale told Racenet on Wednesday.

“It’s not a slot race that we have looked at too much to be honest.

“He was due to race in a Group 3 in Sydney next Saturday (Star Kingdom Stakes) and once the offer came only 12 hours ago, it didn’t change any of our planning and preparation so it’s worked out well.

“We’ve got an in-form horse who’s lightly raced, on the way up and fits the bill for that style of race.

“He’s handled tighter, on-speed style tracks like Caulfield, Moonee Valley, Gosford and Canterbury so he’s got the profile to handle a track like Toowoomba.

“Jamie Mott is going to come up and ride him as well.”

TAB has listed Boston Rocks and Chinny Boom as $6 chances in its KOTM early market, with the Rex Lipp-trained Cifrado the favourite at $4.50 and It’sourtime a juicy $15.

Jamie Mott will ride Boston Rocks in the $750,000 King Of The Mountain slot race in Toowoomba on Friday week. Picture: Racing Photos

Bloodstock agent Jim Clarke helped facilitate the slots for Boston Rocks and Chinny Boom, who will run for broodmare operator Mitchell Cunningham, owner of Ridgmont Farm in the Hunter Valley.

“We were looking for someone to run in our slot and when Chinny Boom became available, we jumped at it,” Cunningham said.

“Chinny Boom is a stakes winner at Eagle Farm over 1200m. She’s got the form and the credentials to be in a race like the King Of The Mountain up to her ears.

“We were struggling for a little while to identify the right horse for our slot. When we realised she was available, we thought she’d be a strong candidate in this race.”

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Cunningham said he was highly impressed by Chinny Boom’s return to racing after a five-month break in her strong-finishing second to the Tony Gollan-trained Liquor in last Saturday’s $125,000 Military Rose (1100m) on the Gold Coast on Jewel day.

“I thought her last run had a lot of merit to it,” Cunningham said.

“She actually looked the winner so it seems like she’s come back well.”

The KOTM used to be staged in the New Year when it was restricted to Queensland-bred and trained horses but it has been shifted to coincide with the Toowoomba Royal Agricultural Show holiday and opened up to horses from across the nation.

Entering its third year, the KOTM boasts stars such as Yellow Brick and Rothfire on its honour board.

“I think it does make it more interesting having form from everywhere and hopefully it’s a big day for Clifford Park seeing some of these southern raiders come up and put on a show for the Queenslanders,” Cunningham said.

Originally published as Boston Rocks becomes latest southern raider selected for King Of The Mountain slot race