Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
New Zealand-bred Booraa is on the march and is developing into a legitimate contender for the rich feature events for mares in the coming summer.
That’s the firm opinion of star reinsman Ryan Warwick, who drove Booraa (trained by Greg and Skye Bond) to victory at $10.10 in the $26,000 Book Now For A Taste of WA Free-For-All for mares at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Booraa began from barrier No. 5 and Warwick quickly had her in the prime one-out, one-back position while American Arma ($6.50) was the surprise leader after the $1.60 favourite Angel In White had lined up in the No. 1 barrier and broke into a gallop in the score-up, losing almost eight lengths.
Platinum Sparkle ($3.80) was left in the breeze and survived a challenge for that position when Emily Suvaljko sent Angel In White forward, out three wide, 600m after the start. When Angel In White failed to gain the breeze position Suvaljko had little option but to restrain the mare back to the rear.
Booraa started a three-wide move 420m from home and she hit the front at the 60m and went on to win by just over a half-length from American Arma, rating 1.57.5 over 2130m.
“You could say that Boora is underrated,” said Warwick. “She’s always had the ability, but she has probably taken six months longer than we thought to be the mare she is. I think she will measure up to the better mares, definitely capable of contesting the Norms Daughter Classic and the Mares Classic this year. Like most mares, she is better in front, but that’s not the luxury you always get.”
Booraa is by Mach Three and is the first foal out of New Zealand-bred mare My Baby’s Laughing, who won at four of her 15 starts for stakes of $23,804. Booraa won at three of her 13 starts in New Zealand as a two and three-year-old and her 25 starts in WA have produced nine wins and ten placings to boost her career record to 38 starts for 12 wins, 14 placings and stakes of $123,402.