When Rosemont announced fees for 2022, Nostradamus and Starspangledbanner were notable absentees, which was the cue for the pair to quinella the inaugural $500,000 The Country Discovery (1100m) at Sale on Good Friday.
Never off the board in 11 starts, the Nostradamus gelding In The Boat built on his admirable winning record with another dominant performance.
Ridden by Blaike McDougall for Lindsay Smith, In The Boat led at every call to defeat Brooklyn Hustle (Starspangledbanner) by two and three-quarter lengths with Sirius Suspect (Wanted) a further one and a half lengths back in third.
Coming off a last-start win in the Abell Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley, In The Boat advances his record to seven wins, a second and three thirds from 11 starts with earnings of $613,750.
McDougall believes In The Boat has what it takes to go to the top.
“I think as long as he stays sound and fit, he will win a Group 1, especially around the Valley,” McDougall said.
‘The sectionals he can run early and how he allows himself to quicken off them makes it nearly impossible to catch him.
“I reckon he has Group 1 written all over him.”
Bred by Darren Weir, In The Boat is the first foal of the Snitzel mare Almost Crystal which was purchased for $27,000 by Forest Lodge Racing from the Ribblesdale Stud draft at the 2017 August Thoroughbred Sale when carrying In The Boat.
Placed four times from seven starts, Almost Crystal is a daughter of the unraced Zabeel mare Diamond Darling a sister to the dam of triple Group 1 winner Humidor.
Diamond Darling’s granddam is the champion Habibti, a triple Group 1 winning half-sister to famed matron Eight Carat.
Almost Crystal has a yearling filly by Artie Schiller (USA) and was covered by Star Witness last spring.
