Never further back than second in seven starts, the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Exoboom was rewarded with a maiden stakes success in Saturday’s $200,000 Group III Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m).
The Triple Crown Syndications colour-bearer came with a barnstorming finish under Sam Clipperton to defeat the Choisir gelding Rainbow Connection by a long-neck with Fiorente gelding Black Duke a length back in third.
Exoboom advanced his record to three wins and four seconds from seven starts with earnings of $188,780.
Paul Snowden said they plan to head home to Scone with the son of Exosphere.
“Sam rode him beautifully off an awkward draw. They ran along in the early and middle stages, which was great,” Paul Snowden said.
“It was just a matter of getting him in clear air and keeping his momentum.
“He is a big horse, and there is no doubt he will keep on improving once he gets up in trip.
“He had a lot more muscle tone today, and his coat has come on. When you see those things happening quite quickly, you know you are on the right track.
“He will probably run next in the Scone Guineas on Friday week, and we will see what happens after that.”
A $75,000 purchase by Musk Creek Farm out of the Newgate Farm draft at the 2018 National Weanling Sale, Exaboon made $70,000 to the bid of Triple Crown Syndications out of the Musk Creek draft at the 2019 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Bred by Aston Bloodstock, he is the only foal to race out of the stakes-placed Dylan Thomas mare First Bloom a daughter of the very accomplished Celtic Swing mare Celtic Bloom, a 7-time winner and twice Group III-placed.
Purchased by Aston Bloodstock for $110,000 at the 2017 Inglis Chairman’s Sale, First Bloom has a 2yo Flying Artie colt named Fierce Flight and a yearling colt by Capitalist, purchased by Snowden Racing for $100,000 out of the Mapperley Stud draft at the NZB Yearling Sale at Karaka.
Exported to New Zealand in 2019, First Bloom has a weanling colt by Tarzino and was bred back to the dual Group 1 winning son of Tavistock.
Exoboom becomes the second stakes-winner for Godolphin’s Group 1 ATC Golden Rose Stakes winner Exosphere. The son of Lonhro does not seem to be in Darley’s plans for the forthcoming season.
