Surely they can't leave him out of the Cup again!

SURELY history can't repeat itself this week!

That was the call from Scott Ewen this morning when discussing next Saturday's Victoria Cup.

Ewen has set the Grand Circuit event as Bulletproof Boy's next target following his upset triumph in last night's Smoken Up Sprint in Melton.

Ewen's concern is more of a lingering scar following the controversial decision made by selectors in 2023.

Despite winning the Smoken Up Sprint, Bulletproof Boy was ommited from the Cup the following week.

"I couldn't believe he didn't get a run two years ago," Ewen said. "He won the Sprint and they still only made him the emergency for the Cup.

"Instead, as one example, they put in a horse which hadn't raced for a year, was under a fitness cloud and was eventually scratched.

"Bulletproof Boy got a start, finishing fifth but was only beaten three metres.

"He couldn't be possible he'll be leftout this year!"

Driven to perfection by James Herbertson, Bulletproof Boy caused a massive upset in the Listed Classic, scoring by a half-head as a $71 outsider over raging $1.06 favourite, Leap To Fame.

Miki Pins was three-and-a-half metres away third as the winner rated 1:51.1 over 1720 metres.

"I'm just constantly amazed by the old fella," Ewen said. "He was first-up from a spell tonight and just went huge.

"I was confused about the steward's questioning his improved performance considering he was fresh from a spell, and even if his last couple of runs weren't his best, he was at the end of his tether by then and needed the break.

"And it's not like he went bad in those runs, finishing fourth and fifth beaten less than five metres!

"It was a masterful drive from James, he couldn't have produced a better drive if he tried."