Kinky Boom Wins Inglis Premier

CRAIG Williams compared Kinky Boom to last year’s Blue Diamond Stakes winner Catchy after her spectacular debut victory in the $250,000 Inglis Premier (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday. Kinky Boom didn’t begin well and was a clear last in the early stages, but the filly finished over the top of her rivals to win pulling up.

Williams, who won last year’s Blue Diamond on Catchy, described Kinky Boom’s win “as quite special”. And he believes she could win the Group 1 Blue Diamond on February 24.

“The acceleration she showed to put them away … and then she was soft on the line. She’s an exciting filly,” Williams said.

“She’s a major contender for the Blue Diamond. Like Catchy last year, she showed she can come from off the speed and use her acceleration.”

Kinky Boom firmed from $17 to $8 for the Blue Diamond Stakes on February 24. Long Leaf is the favourite at $7 with TAB.

Trainer Tony McEvoy could have five Blue Diamond runners as he said Run Naan and Kinky Boom were assured of a start and he was trying to get Oohood, Friday night’s Moonee Valley winner Sanctominious and Al Naifa into the race.

McEvoy said Kinky Boom showed her toughness by winning after having had a tough week in the lead-up to her debut.

“I’m not proud of what I’ve put her through,” McEvoy said.

McEvoy was referring to trialling her at Morphettville last Monday, where she won by eight and a half lengths, floating her to Melbourne on Thursday and then running her on Saturday.

McEvoy said he thought the filly couldn’t win after she was slow to begin and settled last.

“I didn’t expect her to be last,” he said. “I thought not today but she showed the class of the horse and the rider as she came through the field. She was very impressive.”

McEvoy said Kinky Boom would now go straight into the Blue Diamond Stakes without another run.

Kinky Boom ($3.70) defeated Grand Symphony ($41) by a length and three quarters with Aristocratic Miss ($4.60) a half length away third.

Lindsay Park also added to their Blue Diamond arsenal when filly Ennis Hill took out the Chairman’s Stakes (1000m) at her second start. The stable already has Long Leaf and Qalifa in the race.

Co-trainer Ben Hayes wasn’t surprised that Ennis Hill led throughout as they had rated her close to the top of their youngsters.

“What we were surprised by was her first start,” Hayes said. “We thought she’d do what she did today, but she didn’t begin well.”

Hayes said Ennis Hill reminded him of Formality, who finished third in last year’s Blue Diamond Stakes, and she would go straight into that race.

Her jockey, Stephen Baster, said Ennis Hill’s win reeked of quality and he believed she would be able to handle the 1200m of the Blue Diamond Stakes.

Ennis Hill firmed from $26 to $17 for the Blue Diamond Stakes after her win.