Trots Centre: Boy oh boy the Poster child’s back on track

It’s been a long time coming, but boom pacer Poster Boy is finally ready for a return to the races.

A serious case of pneumonia almost took the life of the Emma Stewart-trained star, cutting him down at the peak of his powers last year.

But 11 months on from his last race, the 2019 Chariots of Fire champion is poised for his competitive return. And the excitement is building, just ask top reinsman Greg Sugars.

“I had a couple of drives with him at the trials now and just been super impressed with what I’ve seen and felt from him, especially his most recent trial when he ran a tick under 54 for his last half around Ballarat,” Sugars said.

“Very excited to get behind him under race conditions, even though it’s not the biggest race he’s obviously contested in his career, but just to get him out there under race conditions and sit behind a horse like that, that’s the reason why we are out there as drivers, to team up with these horses.”

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Those three trials behind closed doors have tuned up the son of Somebeachsomewhere for Saturday night’s TAB, Long May We Play Pace (1720m, NR 90 to 120) at Tabcorp Park Melton.

He’s drawn the widest of the small field in barrier six, but should be far too good for his rivals despite being first-up from a long break.

Owner-breeder Anne Anderson of Lauriston Bloodstock can barely contain the excitement for her horse’s return.

“We’re getting very good reports on his condition and on his fitness, as is evidenced by his last trial, coming home in 26 at Ballarat,” she said.

“He’s ticking all the boxes and the next big step obviously is to go to the races and do it at the track.

“I don’t see why he can’t. He appears to us when he trials to be very keen, very fit and he wants to be there. That in itself is a big plus. We’re looking forward to it – it’s been a long time.”

Anderson admitted some feature races are on the agenda, but said it was too hard to plan far ahead with the limited programming situation in place due to COVID-19.

“Yes, we would like to go to some feature races, but it really does depend on when they are, where they are,” she said.

“We are just doing it a race at a time at the moment until we can work out just exactly what we’ve got in the future to actually plan for.

“If there’s nothing much there, we’ll have to consider options. There’s been enquiries for stud so maybe that’s his future. We just don’t know. COVID-19 has thrown everyone’s plans up in the air.”

Poster Boy, a multiple Group 1 winner across his career, will compete in the last of eight races at Melton on Saturday night. The gates are set to fold back at 9.02pm.