BOLD EXECUTIVE TAKES THE STEP UP IN DISTANCE IN HIS STRIDE. MAKES IT 2 WINS FROM HIS LAST 3 STARTS

By Graham Potter | Sunday, March 21, 2021

Jockey Ryan Wiggins guided Bold Executive to a clear-cut victory in the QTIS Three-Year-Old Handicap over 2206m at Eagle Farm in the gelding’s first attempt beyond 1800m.

Bold Executive, who is trained by Garnett Taylor, missed the start but Wiggins gradually allowed the son of Top Echelon to find his feet before making measured progress up towards the lead, which was held by The Cullinan, who was only setting a sedate pace.

So sedate in fact that Wiggins spent little time in behind the leader before moving Bold Executive into the lead down the back stretch. That move was achieved with the minimum of fuss and then it was Bold Executive’s turn to enjoy leading at a comfortable gallop.

More importantly though, it gave Bold Executive the first look at the home straight where Wiggins was the first jockey to put his foot on the accelerator. Bold Executive soon confirmed a clear advantage over his rivals and nothing of significance was to change in the run home in which Bold Executive claimed a second win from his last three starts.

“I set him for these two races to see if he would run the trip,” said Garnett Taylor. “He was a touch under-done the other day over the 1800m and, with the same sort of field here, I thought he could turn it around today.”

“I had to go to Plan B (after the missed start) a little bit, but I just took my time getting there,” said jockey Ryan Wiggins.

“It was his first go over that sort of distance, so I didn’t want to rush him up there, three wide. Even though he relaxes, I still took my time on him.

“I could see that Leah Kilner (on The Cullinan) didn’t want to be in front so that helped me make up my mind to go a bit early.

“When I eventually got to take it over down the back straight, I thought I was a good chance.

“He was s bit stiff the other day. Six weeks between runs … pretty much the same field … I think he would have had them covered the other day as well if he had a run under his belt.”

From the Stewards' Report:

THE CULLINAN – Near the 150m laid in under pressure and brushed with POINT COUNTERPOINT. Lost off hind plate in running.

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