Osborne Bulls runs fifth successive G1 second in Doomben 10,000

The excruciating run of G1 second placings grew longer for Osborne Bulls in Brisbane on Saturday when he went down in a tight photo in the Doomben 10,000.

For the fifth time in five G1 races, Osborne Bulls appeared set to claim his breakthrough win at the elite level.

But for the fifth time in as many starts he had to settle for second, having set himself the mammoth task of coming from last of 13 at the 300m and going down by a long-head to The Bostonian whose victory came thanks to a series of inside runs over the closing 100m.

Osborne Bulls began his current campaign in February in the G1 Lightning Stakes at Flemington where he also came from last to be beaten in a tight finish by In Her Time.

He followed that with a second to Sunlight in the G1 Newmarket also at Flemington, was then second to Santa Ana Lane in the G1 TJ Smith at Randwick and filled the same position behind Pierata in the G1 All Aged Stakes at Randwick last month.

He could yet get his final chance at a G1 this season in next month’s G1 Stradbroke Handicap.

As much ground as he had to concede, Osborne Bulls’ prospects were assisted when the highly-ranked Nature Strip missed the start and by the healthy pace set by the leaders.

With 400m to run, Kerrin McEvoy began a forward move wide on the track, challenged the leaders at the 100m and seemed set to claim his elusive G1 win.

But the moment was fleeting, as The Bostonian dashed through a gap and put his nose down right on the line.

"I was back with the cap-catchers, it was a huge run," said jockey Kerrin McEvoy.

“He ran a great race under the circumstances, he just had a fraction too much to do."

“He couldn’t take a position early and on this track it’s tough to give away that much of a start.”

Despite his series of second placings, Osborne Bulls possesses the impressive record of 9 starts for nine wins, seven seconds and two thirds and racetrack earnings of more than A$2.8m.

On a day that promised much, the Godolphin team had to settle for a pair of Listed wins at Scone in NSW where Trekking and Viridine both scored dominant wins.

Trekking enjoyed a perfect run before asserting himself in the Luskin Star Stakes, scoring by a hard-held three-quarters-of-a-length from Brave Song with Deploy in third place.

Even more impressive was Viridine, who bounced back to form in the Ortensia Stakes, coming from last to overpower his opposition, scoring by a half-length from Victorem and Guard Of Honour.