Victorian superstar Amron Boy will take aim at his second Group 1 title in Saturday night’s Paws Of Thunder Final (520m) at Wentworth Park, but only after surviving a major heat scare.
Amron Boy ventured to Sydney in sensational form for Lara trainers Brooke and Jamie Ennis and stifled betting on the opening Paws heat, starting at $1.18 from box one, a price rarely seen in G1 company.
His three previous appearances had resulted in a near-record victory in the G1 Silver Chief at The Meadows (29.45sec), a desperately close second to Wow She’s Fast in The Phoenix and a sub-29 seconds success at Sandown Park.
After railing to the front rounding the first turn, Amron Boy, a son of beaten 2016 Paws favourite Zambora Brockie, appeared set for a statement victory.
But the joint ‘All In’ series favourite had to dig deep to survive an unexpected challenge from Ibrox Wildfire ($21), scoring by three-quarters of a length in 29.85sec, his 15th win at start 34.
Amron Boy was the ‘slowest’ of the five heat winners, with NSW star French Martini securing qualifying honours, posting 29.45sec.
While racing below his devastating best, Amron Boy still found a way to win and has subsequently been given a clean bill of health ahead of Saturday night’s $75,000 to-the-winner final – race 8 at 8.39pm.
“He had a routine check from my vet and his blood tests were good, so he’s good to go,” Jamie Ennis said.
“He wasn’t at his best in his heat, but it’s a Group 1 and I can’t see any reason not to run.
“There could have been any number of reasons for his performance. It might be a case of him doing most of his racing at The Meadows and Sandown, Wentworth Park is a different track, and he might have needed another look there.
“The other dog (Ibrox Wildfire) got alongside him on the point of the corner, but he wasn’t going to let it get past him.
“He’s a winner, he wants to win, and he knows when he wins. That’s what got him over the line.”
Amron Boy will exit box 5 in his fourth G1 appearance, with Sportsbet marking him on the third line of betting at $4.80, behind ‘bookends’ She’s A Pearl (box 8) at $3 and French Martini (box 1) $3.50.
Click HERE for Sportsbet’s latest Paws Of Thunder market
“Obviously the draw makes it difficult; he’s going to need luck,” Ennis said.
“French Martini has drawn where she wants and ran terrific in her heat, so she’s probably the one to beat.
“If you’re a punter, you can only go off Amron Boy’s heat run and you’d probably say he can’t win. But if he brings his Melbourne form, he’s right in it.
“There could be drastic improvement this week, but he could easily get beaten too. Whatever happens, I’m sure he won’t disgrace himself.”
Amron Boy was one of only three Vics to tackle the Paws heats, with McInerney, trained by Brendan Pursell, unable to repeat his Million Dollar Chase heroics, running third, while kennelmate Who Told Shorty was sixth.
Two heat of the Group 2 Summer Distance Plate (720m) were also held last Saturday, with both Victorian contenders advancing to the $40,000 to-the-winner final – race 5 at 7.29pm.
Tearaway leader First Picked ($4.80), trained by Tim Britton, was grabbed in the shadows of the post in the opening heat by $1.20 favourite Cawbourne Magic in 42.06sec.
Angela Langton’s Osprey Storm also advanced to the final after finishing fourth in heat two.
First Picked has drawn box 3 for the final, with Osprey Storm in box 4.
Victoria also has two finalists in the G1 National Futurity – race 6 at 7.49pm – and one in the G1 National Derby – race 7 at 8.12pm, both age events carrying a $75,000 winner’s purse.
G2 Laurels runner-up Baby Jaycee, trained by Bob Douglas, won her Futurity heat in 29.92sec last Friday, and will be joined by Jeff Britton’s Ava Blazer, which finished second in her run-off.
After drawing box 8, Baby Jaycee is on the third line of betting at $5, with Ava Blazer (box 4) a $21 outsider.
Heat runner-up Lawless, prepared by Lee Moore, will fly solo for Victoria in the Derby, after the scratching of Jeff Britton’s Multi Matt.
Lawless (box 2) is a $17 chance.
