He’s been a model of consistency through a long and successful career, and the horse known as “The Freak” by those closest to him is preparing to reach a special milestone this Saturday night.
Nine-year-old Bulletproof Boy is gearing up for start 200, a feat he will achieve in the “Congratulations Triple Eight 150 Races Pace” as owners of the Jess Tubbs-trained veteran celebrate their star’s similarly impressive racetrack journey.
Bulletproof Boy has been with trainer-driver Scott Ewen right from the start, with the son of Art Official collecting $582,544 in earnings from 42 wins and 199 outings since making his debut at Globe Derby in April of 2017.
He’s never won at Group 1 level but has picked up many feature triumphs along the way, including Smoken Up Sprint wins in 2022 and 2023.
“He’s the best horse I’ve ever had, and I don’t think I’ll ever get one half as good,” Ewen said on Burning Questions this week.
“He’s like a two-year-old. He gets out here and he bounces around. He actually upsets me sometimes because he’s so feral, but I think that’s his adrenaline which keeps him running and keeps him feeling young.”
Triple Eight has proven one of the state’s most consistent top-level performers since being purchased out of New Zealand to race in Victoria some four years ago, with the American Ideal gelding having amassed $874,881 in prizemoney from his 28 wins and 149 career runs.
He and Bulletproof Boy have had some great battles over the years, including a near dead-heat finish last weekend at Melton that saw Triple Eight prevail by a nose.
“I don’t even know what the (head-to-head) score is (between Bulletproof Boy and Triple Eight), but it’d be like Port Power and the Crows – there wouldn’t be far between them. They’ve both done a great job,” Ewen said.
Bulletproof Boy will start from barrier three, while Triple Eight is the lone back row runner in tomorrow night’s $22,500 feature over the 1720m sprint trip.
The “Congratulations Triple Eight 150 Races Pace” is the second event on Saturday night’s eight-race card at Melton, with full wall-to-wall coverage of the meeting available at TrotsVision.com.au and on Sky Racing Active.
