Three years ago, the Musk Creek Farm organisation decided it was time to move on from pinhooking and focus on developing their own brand of thoroughbred. It could not have been easy: Pierro was one of its first graduates. But David Kobritz and Scott Williamson believed more in raising their own.
What Exoboom’s win in the Hawkesbury Guineas on Saturday does is highlight the farm’s ability to develop and prepare a quality-bred racehorse for sale. With Exoboom, he joins an honour roll of sales graduates including Stakes winners Pinch River, Nicoscene, Irukandji, Choisborder and United And Conquer – who is now standing at Kingstar Farm.
Exoboom’s career may end up surpassing all of them. He is now a three-time winner and a podium finisher in all seven starts. If not for losing at Kensington on protest in December, he might have won four. But the Exosphere gelding is clearly a racehorse with vast talent.
He raced widest and was challenging odds-on favourite and last start Stakes winner Ellsberg. But Exoboom and jockey Sam Clipperton kept cool. They overcame Rainbow Connection to win by a half-length in 1:21.92 for the 1400 metres. The result was never in doubt despite yet another protest ordeal.
Musk Creek Farm’s stud secretary Bec Williamson said of a young Exoboom: “He was such a dude – so cruisy and easy to have around.” It is this level head that has held Exoboom in good stead, to be professional and find the line under adversity. Such wonderful traits everyone desperately seeks in a racehorse.
Congratulations to Triple Crown Syndications, Snowden Racing and Sam Clipperton.
The pinhooking era at Musk Creek Farm is winding down, but it continues to reap big rewards. Exoboom’s success has come only three days after Corner Pocket resumed to win his third race in five starts for Boomer Bloodstock and trainer Lindsey Smith. Like Exoboom, Corner Pocket is building a formidable record and we will be watching these horses closely in the months ahead.
