Trainer Gerald Ryan has confirmed that classy colt Charlie Boy is a chance to compete in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield next Sunday, rather than the Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m).
Charlie Boy is a chance to contest the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield next Sunday. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Charlie Boy stamped himself as a leading contender for the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) with an impressive victory in the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1200m), drawing clear in the final stages of the race to score a comfortable win and suggest that he will relish the step-up to a mile.
The Caulfield Guineas Prelude is the traditional path to the Caulfield Guineas but Ryan is considering giving the Myboycharlie colt the chance to score his maiden Group 1 win against older horses in the Group 1 sprint over 1400 metres.
“It is something that I have been weighing up,” Ryan told Sky Racing HQ.
“The three-year-olds that have gone into that race off running in the Danehill Stakes have a really good record.
“I saw a list of them yesterday that had run in it and they were all great horses.
“It is something to keep your options open as he will only half to carry 52.5kg and in the Guineas Prelude he will cop a penalty and carry 57.5kg.
“We will weigh up our options but at this stage we will worry about it after we see the entries next Monday.”
Charlie Boy stayed in Melbourne after his Danehill Stakes victory and Ryan said that he has recovered from the run well.
“From all reports he has done very well,” Ryan said.
“It was commented on the track on Monday that he looked better for the run and Jason who is down there with him said that he hasn’t missed a beat.
“I am very happy with him at this stage.”
The Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes has been won by three-year-old horses on four occasions in the last thirty years, with Our Maizcay (1995), Encosta De Lago (1996), Testa Rossa (1999) and Exceed And Excel (2003) all winning the races as colts.
Group 1 winners Ferlax, Commanding Jewel and Linton are among the horses that are currently on track to contest the 2013 edition of the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.
