Charm Stone did not go as close in the Golden Rose as In Secret, but Michael Kent Jnr remains confident in her ability to also use it as a springboard to Coolmore Stud Stakes success.
The 1200-metre Group 1 at Flemington on November 4 is the most likely next start for Charm Stone, who like In Secret is a daughter of I Am Invincible.
Charm Stone finished fifth, beaten just over a length in Saturday’s Golden Rose, despite enjoying little room in the home straight and Kent said she’d come through the run well.
“She’s a very tough filly, she’s so aggressive in the feed bin and she’s come out of it extremely well,” Kent, who trains in partnership with Mick Price, said.
“She ran super. I don’t know if she wins (with clear running), but she goes close running second or third.
“The Golden Rose is always the form race of the spring. The winner was outstanding, there were a lot of good colts in that race, and she’s definitely up to them.
“She’s won down the straight before, so the Coolmore’s the obvious option.”
In Secret was nabbed on the line by the Price/Kent Jnr-trained Jacquinot in last year’s Golden Rose before winning the Coolmore Stud Stakes at her next start.
Kent is also maintaining the faith win their headline runner from Saturday’s Caulfield meeting with Amenable still on target for his spring goals despite finished unplaced as a $1.80 favourite in the Listed Testa Rossa Stakes (1400m).
“He pulled up perfectly,” Kent said.
“He was in a non-winning position at the half-mile.
“His sectionals were as good as any in the race and he mathematically couldn’t pick them up, so don’t drop off.”
Amenable will next step out in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield on October 14 before progressing to the $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill three weeks later.
