The winning margin wasn’t convincing but Group One targets were confirmed for Hoylonny after the richly bred colt started his second campaign in a positive manner at Warwick Farm on Monday.
Trainer Chris Waller put the Australian Guineas and the Randwick Guineas on Hoylonny’s autumn agenda despite what seemed to be a hard-fought win in the Summer Super Saver Ticket Handicap (1300m).
Trainer Chris Waller put the Australian Guineas and the Randwick Guineas on Hoylonny's autumn agenda - Photo by Steve Hart
“I’ll space his races because it is always easy to get ahead of ourselves but I think he is probably ready for a big campaign,” Waller said.
“If we can space his races properly then maybe we’ll look at the Australian or Randwick Guineas if we get the opportunity.”
A Canterbury winner before being sent for a spring spell, Hoylonny raced at the back of the small field for Hugh Bowman before reeling in the leaders to fend off a two-pronged Darley attack.
Drifting from odds-on to start favourite at $2.60, the colt beat Soledad ($6) by a half neck with Boston Tea ($7.50) another three-quarters of a length away third.
Hoylonny is eligible to contest the $1 million Magic Millions Guineas on Saturday week but Waller says the Gold Coast feature will come around too soon for the Lonhro three-year-old.
“He’s eligible for the Magic Millions but he could go up there on a hot day in a hustle and bustle race and run a nice fourth which could bugger his whole campaign,” Waller said.
“If I give him three or four weeks between his first few starts I might be able to get five runs out of him.”
Hoylonny, who is raced by Bob Ingham and his family, is by champion sire Lonhro out of Roedean and Waller rates him an exciting prospect as the stable chases 2012 riches.
“As you can see he is a very talented horse and he’s got the best attitude you could ever think of,” Waller said.
“That’s what probably makes him so laid back. Where his improvement comes from today will be the experience he takes away from the race.”
Unlike his Rosehill counterpart, trainer Gerald Ryan is happy to chase Magic Millions riches with Angel Of Mercy, a runaway winner of the Schweppes Maiden Plate (1300m).
“I’d like to think she could get a start in the Guineas,” Ryan said.
“If not, I’ll look at the fillies and mares race on the same day.”
Ryan boosted his Magic Millions day stocks when Amorini scored an impressive Rosehill win on Saturday to become one of the favourites for the $2 million 2YO Classic.
He was just as impressed with Angel Of Mercy, the $3 equal favourite, after the filly romped to a 3-1/4 length victory with Brenton Avdulla in the saddle.
AAP TURF
