Boom youngster Bosustow on new path to Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap

Bosustow’s winter goal is the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap but the exciting young colt is now likely to have a crack at another Group 1 race beforehand.

Connections of key Stradbroke Handicap fancy Bosustow have tweaked their thinking and will strongly consider a fresh plan to tackle another Group 1 race on the way to the Stradbroke.

With his triple-figure rating, the three-year-old colt who trounced his opposition by six lengths in last Saturday’s Gold Coast Guineas seems assured of getting a start in the Stradbroke next month.

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After that booming win, and with two career Group 1 placings to his name as well as the Magic Millions Guineas in January, Bosustow is the equal second pick at $11 for the 2025 Stradbroke.

Bosustow is named after Australian Rules great Peter Bosustow who passed away recently.

Rarely has a three-year-old zoomed into Stradbroke contention with such a high rating.

Bosustow loves racing at @GCTurfClub! He dominates the Gold Coast Guineas for @ANeashamRacing 💪 pic.twitter.com/EWLkNGveYt

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 10, 2025

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It had been intended the colt would next be seen in the Group 3 Fred Best Classic at Eagle Farm on May 31, with that race offering the winning three-year-old a golden ticket into the Stradbroke.

But with his Stradbroke spot seemingly assured, it now appears likely the plan will change and Bosustow would have a crack at the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup which is on the same day as the Fred Best.

Bosustow is not among nominations for the Kingsford Smith, meaning connections of the Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained youngster would have to fork out a $25,500 fee when final nominations are due on May 27.

Bosustow is equal second favourite for the Stradbroke Handicap following his Gold Coast Guineas demolition last Saturday. Picture: Bethany Allday/Trackside Photography

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“I have spoken to the (Queensland) chief handicapper who has suggested with his rating it would be enough to get him into the Stradbroke as it stands,” Bosustow’s managing owner Anthony Mithen said.

“Given that we have already tested him at weight-for-age level – albeit in New Zealand where he ran second to Here To Shock – we have probably got a little bit of confidence to say he could be up to that level.

“We have to think, why would we be running in the Fred Best given it looks like he is already in the Stradbroke?

“There’s no apparent reason really not to run in Kingsford Smith, as our springboard into the Straddy.”

Given he does not hold a nomination for the Kingsford Smith, Bosustow is not currently included in wagering markets on the race which have Giga Kick and Joliestar as the equal $4.50 favourites.

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Bosustow was rated 101 before his Guineas romp on the Gold Coast last Saturday – made even more meritorious by the fact his trainers were considering scratching him on race morning as they didn’t think he would enjoy the heavy track.

He is receiving a further ratings bump.

After Bosustow’s dominant win, Rosemont Stud boss Mithen received a text message from Peter Bosustow’s widow Shelley.

It read, simply, “Pete would be so happy to see the Bosustow horse win today. Congratulations.”