The Group One win of Mrs Onassis has set the tone for what trainer Gerald Ryan hopes will be a lucrative autumn.
While Ryan doesn’t have a runner in this weekend’s only Group One, the Australian Guineas at Flemington, he is setting his sights on the biggest prize in Sydney, the $3.5 million Golden Slipper with Charlie Boy.
Charlie Boy on track for the Golden Slipper - Photo by Steve Hart
The winner of Saturday’s Silver Slipper (1100m) at Rosehill is guaranteed a berth in world’s richest race for two-year-olds on April 6 and Charlie Boy will be out to cement his place.
Charlie Boy won in November at his only start and is third favourite in early Slipper markets which are headed by Overreach and Villa Verde.
In the latest order of entry the colt is equal 21st with the contenders to be whittled down to 16 by race time.
Blue Diamond Stakes winner Miracles Of Life is at No.1 but is an unlikely starter.
Charlie Boy was one of 17 Silver Slipper entries taken on Monday and goes into the race off a 3-1/2 length win in a barrier trial last week.
“He has done well since the trial and had a good gallop on the grass at Rosehill on Saturday before the rain came,” Ryan said.
“It’s getting down to the business end now. He is a horse who has handled everything so far.”
The Golden Slipper is recognised as a race that shapes the future breeding careers of the winners or their sires and Charlie Boy represents the first southern hemisphere crop of Vinery stallion Myboycharlie.
Widden Stakes winner Overreach was also among Saturday’s nominations along with her Gai Waterhouse-trained stablemate Sweet Idea, runner-up to Missy Longstocking in last month’s Magic Millions Classic.
Blue Diamond Prelude winner Kuroshio will also run after trainer Peter Snowden opted not to start him at Caulfield on Saturday believing he was not up to a strong 1200 metres.
Ryan will make a decision later this week where Flying Snitzel runs with the filly entered for the Millie Fox Stakes (1300m) and the Fireball Quality (1100m) at Rosehill and two races at Flemington.
“Villa Splendido is a definite runner in the Fireball but we’ll wait and see with Flying Snitzel,” he said.
Mrs Onassis will return to Sydney to be prepared for the Galaxy with Ryan believing she is better suited to 1100 metres than the 1200 of the upcoming feature sprints in Melbourne, the William Reid Stakes and the Newmarket Handicap.
