Caulfield trainer Mick Price had such a high opinion of unraced three-year-old Kwaboom that he had high hopes of him tackling the Caulfield Guineas last year until a respiratory problem ended those plans.
Kwaboom’s Tasmanian owner-breeder Wayne Upton stretched the budget and booked the gelding into the Werribee Clinic for an operation to hopefully correct the problem.
After specialist Dr Alistair McLean performed the operation the gelding was dispatched to Tasmania for a spell and then sent to Campania trainer Michael Voss about three months ago and so far everything has gone to plan.
The gelding ran third at his first trial in Tasmania two weeks ago and at Tattersall’s Park in Hobart today Kwaboom went to a new level as he gave his rivals a galloping lesson in a trial over 900 metres.
With experienced rider Stephen Maskiell aboard, Kwaboom was urged to lead and once settled into a rhythm he travelled sweetly and left his rivals in his wake over the concluding stages.
He hit the line over four lengths clear of unraced three-year-old filly Cerise Sauvage with the well performed Danestone 1-1/2 lengths away third and well clear of Elli Au Go Go.
Wayne Upton and his daughter Meagan Sommerville, who also is a part-owner, were delighted with the trial and they are now hoping the gelding can take that sort of effort into his debut race in a fortnight in Hobart.
Meagan said she recently secured a strapper’s licence specifically to take care of Kwaboom on race days.
How the horse came by his name makes for fascinating listening.
Listen to what owner-breeder Wayne Upton had to say about Kwaboom and how the horse acquired the strange name .