Talented colt Charlie Boy will return to racing in the Magic Millions Guineas (1400m) at the Gold Coast on January 11 after winning a barrier trial at Rosehill Gardens this morning.
Charlie Boy will head to the Gold Coast for the $1 million Magic Millions Guineas after winning a barrier trial this morning. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Charlie Boy was kept under a heavy hold by jockey Nash Rawiller but was still able to come from the back of the field and win the barrier trial over 900 metres in comfortable fashion.
Trainer Gerald Ryan said that he was happy with the performance of Charlie Boy and revealed that he would go into the Magic Millions Guineas without a lead-up race; indicating that he is confident that the Myboycharlie colt can maintain his excellent first-up record that includes two wins and a third place finish.
“Both his wins have been first-up on the back of two barrier trials,” Ryan told TVN.
“He was able to win first-up down the straight over 1200m and he only had three weeks off after his run in the Caulfield Guineas.
“Fitness won’t be an issue with him.”
Charlie Boy has recorded just two wins from nine career starts but has shown since making his debut with a win in the ATC Membership On Sale Now Handicap (1100m) in November last year that he has the talent to compete at the highest level of racing.
The classy colt started his juvenile campaign with an unlucky third place finish in the Group 2 Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m) and pulled hard and overraced when fourth behind Criterion in the Group 2 Todman Stakes (1200m) two weeks later.
He had no luck when eighth behind Overreach in the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) and was never a factor in the finish in either the Group 1 Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) or the Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m).
Charlie Boy continued his excellent first-up record with an impressive victory over Kiss A Rose and Éclair Big Bang in the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on September 7 and finished a credible fourth in the Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) before finishing seventh in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m).
Charlie Boy ($9) is currently on the fourth line of 2014 Magic Millions Guineas betting markets behind Sweet Idea ($5), Aussies Love Sport ($5.50) and Enquare ($8.50).
