Rocky rocket out to continue Cunningham's charmed run

By Jordan Gerrans

From the Magic Millions to the Stradbroke Handicap, Mitchell Cunningham has had the winning touch on his home soil over the last few years.

After holding a slot in the King of the Mountain since the race's inception, Cunningham is hopeful of adding it to his recent hit-list of winfalls when Rockhampton rocket Chinny Boom runs in his position later this month.

Originally hailing from the Sunshine State, Cunningham operates Cunningham Thoroughbreds and Ridgmont Farm, which is the breeding segment of his business in NSW.

The team have tasted the ultimate highs in racing over the last couple of seasons.

They owned a share in Storm Boy when the boom colt claimed the Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic in 2024 while Stefi Magnetica was crowned Stradbroke Handicap champion last winter.

Chinny Boom returned in smart fashion on Saturday at the Gold Coast where the mare finished second in the Military Rose over 1100 metres for the ladies.  

“This is probably the first year we have got a horse where we feel like we can win the race,” Cunningham said of Chinny Boom’s KOTM claims.

“Hopefully she can improve from that first-up run and if she does, then she will definitely be in the finish of a race like this.

“You love seeing horses come down to the big smoke from the north and that is what she has done.

“She is certainly up to the top quality mares in metro grade around the country. She is a quality mare that looks like she has come back well so it’s all exciting.”

The Cunningham Thoroughbreds slot have not had much luck in the KOTM.

They presented with Last Chance in the inaugural event – who finished fifth to Yellow Brick – while Salt Lake Betty did not come close to figuring in the finish in last year's edition that Rothfire claimed.

Prepared by Clinton Taylor at Rockhampton, Chinny Boom is back in the Sunshine State after a short Victorian campaign with famous Queensland export Peter Moody.

After a Brisbane winter campaign that delivered a victory in the Listed Helen Coughlan Stakes at Eagle Farm, Chinny Boom could not crack a win in her two starts at Caulfield.

"The time away seems to have really seasoned her and hardened her up," Taylor said prior to Saturday's first-up run.

"Chinny's trials have been terrific and they indicate she may have even improved a little and we couldn't be happier.”

With the KOTM open to interstate runners in 2025 for the first time, Cunningham says his team were keen to stick with the local form and believes Chinny Boom is up to the task.

“Chinny Boom has established Queensland form, she is a very sharp stakes-winning Spirit Of Boom mare,” Cunningham said.

“She has won at Listed level over 1200 metres and she obviously has a lot of form over shorter than that, so she is very sharp.

“I think she will handle the hot tempo that you normally have at Toowoomba and she profiles very well.

“We were encouraged to see how well she trialled before her first-up run and seeing that convert onto the race track where she ran a really good second on Saturday.

“I think a race like the King of the Mountain profiles well for her and I think she will be in it up to her ears.

“It is good we have a good Queensland horse in a good Queensland race.”

As well as Stefi Magnetica’s winter exploits last year, Cunningham’s Arriving Home finished third in the recent Magic Millions Guineas at the Gold Coast.

Coincidentally, the team also own a share in Guineas winner Bosustow but the galloper races in Rosemont Stud colours instead of the navy and gold the rest of Cunningham’s runners boast.

The final field for the third edition of the KOTM race was confirmed on Wednesday.

It will consist of: Boston Rocks (trained by Matthew Dale), Chinny Boom (Taylor), Comrade Rosa, King Kapa, Millane, Rockribbed (Tony Gollan), It'sourtime (Pat Webster), Russian Alliance (Kevin Kemp), Safework (Scott Morrisey), Steady Ready and Secret Plan (Tony and Maddysen Sears) and Cifrado (Rex Lipp).            

It'sourtime was earlier this month racing at Group 1 level in Melbourne but has since been transferred from Danny O'Brien to Webster on the Darling Downs.

It'sourtime will run in the slot of Brisbane syndicators High Calibre Racing.

Toowoomba Turf Club CEO Grant Sheather said It'sourtime's part-owner Luke Berger played a key role in landing It'sourtime in the KOTM.

“He was instrumental in getting the horse up here,” Sheather said.

“They did the deal with High Calibre.”

The $750,000 slot race will be held next Friday.

The KOTM will serve as the ideal lead up to the Queensland Racing Carnival’s feature sprint races, commencing with the Group 2 Victory Stakes on May 3.