Australia: Bourbon Flyer favored in Wellington Boot Stakes

There are eight fillies and six colts and geldings in the main body of the field for the $152,680 Wellington Boot Stakes for 2-year-olds on Sunday at Wellington Racecourse in Australia.

Among those groups, there are two males with leading chances in Bourbon Flyer and Keith and two fillies who command respect in Sonnet Star and Tidal Impact.

The Wellington Boot is run at 5 1/2 furlongs and is the seventh race on an eight-race program that begins at 10:20 p.m. Eastern, or 7:20 p.m. Pacific, on Saturday.

Bourbon Flyer, the 2-1 favorite on Friday, has started twice, winning a maiden race at 5 1/2 furlongs on the Kensington course on Feb. 7 at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney and finishing sixth of nine in the Group 3 Black Opal Stakes at six furlongs on March 7 at Canberra Racecourse.

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Bourbon Flyer was beaten 2 1/2 lengths in the Black Opal by Kalashnikov, who was entered in Saturday’s Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse.

None of the other runners in the Wellington Boot have group-level stakes form.

Keith has had one start, winning a maiden race at 5 1/2 furlongs on March 17 at Canberra by two lengths after setting the pace.

Tidal Impact is on a similar career path, having won her debut in a handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs on March 14 at Coonamble Racecourse as the 2-1 favorite. Tidal Impact was near the front throughout.

Sonnet Star was second in her lone start, a maiden race for fillies at five furlongs on March 10 at Kensington. Dismissed at 20-1, Sonnet Star closed from fourth to finish 1 1/4 lengths behind Najmaty, the 5-4 favorite.

Najmaty is nominated for the Group 2 Percy Sykes Stakes on April 17 at Randwick.

The stalking style could be an asset for Sonnet Star in the Wellington Boot.