The benefit of race experience proved beneficial for Charm Stone when the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained filly scoredĀ at Flemington.
Victory in theĀ GroupĀ 3Ā Ottawa Stakes (1000m) on Thursday came at Charm Stone’s second start on the Flemington straightĀ course.
Charm Stone finished third to Zulfiqar in the Maribyrnong Trial Stakes on October 1, butĀ PriceĀ explained the filly had a tough preparation leading up to that race.
After failing to get her barrier certificate in a jump-out at Flemington the week prior, Charm Stone then backed up in a jump-out at Cranbourne six days prior to making her debut.
Sent out the $4.60 favourite under Damian Lane, Charm Stone registered a 1-Ā¾ length victory fromĀ EmpressĀ OfĀ Wonder ($5) with Hell Queen ($13) a half-length away third.
Charm Stone was a $1.55 million Magic Millions purchase andĀ taking the prize in a Group 3 race early in career will assure her value as a broodmare.
“She’s a beautiful type, big, strong, sound and got a pedigree,”Ā PriceĀ said.
“She’s one of Sheamus’ (Mills) buys for the boys and it’s good that she’s now got a Stakes race (win).
“That makes them as broodmares, albeit at start two, and the question will be, what to do now?”
PriceĀ indicated Charm Stone was likely to have a break with either the Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast in January or theĀ Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield in February potential targets.
“Personally, I’m a Group 1 man,”Ā PriceĀ said.
“She’s a big, strong filly, she’ll trainĀ on,Ā and she’ll have a good, robust two-year-old year, butĀ that’s open for discussion.”
Lane had trialled Charm Stone onĀ the Flemington straight course prior to her debutĀ but elected to rideĀ KrakaribĀ which finished sixthĀ in the Maribyrnong TrialĀ prior to winning the Group 3 MaribyrnongĀ PlateĀ (1000m) last Saturday.
“I must thank the connections for putting me back on,” Lane said.
“I jumped off after she didn’t get her barrier certificate before her first start, so I’m very thankful to be back on her today.
“She just got a little bit lost her first start up the straight here, but having that experience was a lot better today.”
