A slashing debut from two-year-old Charlie Boy at Rosehill on Saturday had top jockey Glyn Schofield glowing in his praise and rival hoop Nash Rawiller stunned he had been beaten.
Betting suggested the 2013 ATC Membership On Sale Now Handicap (1100m) would be a race in two and it proved right as the Gerald Ryan-trained Charlie Boy ($2.20 equal favourite) let down impressively late on to grab Windjammer ($2.20) to win by a half length.
Charlie Boy winning on debut at Rosehill - Photo by Steve Hart
Connections of Charlie Boy are likely to bypass the rich Magic Millions Classic in January to concentrate on the $3.5 million Golden Slipper in the autumn.
“He’s one of the better ones I have ridden for quite some time,” Schofield said of Charlie Boy.
“Even though he has only won by a narrow margin it was pretty soft in the end. The way he has done it has been most impressive.
“I don’t want to be getting off this one.”
Plans to either lead or sit outside the leader were dashed early when the colt was buffeted and then reluctant to press on.
He sat third in the run as Rawiller dictated terms on Windjammer.
Windjammer, who like Charlie Boy had won his recent trial by 3-1/2 lengths, kicked strongly and looked the winner inside the final 150m.
But once Schofield got Charlie Boy balanced up and asked him for his effort, the jockey was confident he would reel in the leader.
Rawiller’s post-race remarks were telling.
“I thought he (Windjammer) went outstanding,” Rawiller said.
“I was quite taken by the winner’s performance. I think it was an unbelievable effort to pick us up.”
All The Talk ($18) came in another 1-1/4 lengths away third.
Charlie Boy is by first-season sire Myboycharlie who was a Group One-winning juvenile in France.
Stable foreman Brad Banfield said the colt would head for a spell.
