The lure of a $3 million prizemoney purse for the Magic Millions Guineas has tempted Chris Waller to continue the campaign of Callander-Presnell winner Chrysaor into the summer.
While the Group 2 performer is considered a genuine autumn carnival colt, the rich prizemoney on offer at the Gold Coast has convinced connections to aim their next dart at the January showpiece.
Chrysaor has been freshened since taking out the Callander-Presnell (1600m) in October and Waller’s racing manager and assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth says two subsequent barrier trials have kept him up to the mark.
“The ‘Magics’ is why he’s here and the reason we gave him that tick over trial (on December 5) to make sure he’s doing everything right,” Duckworth said.
“He’s got a nice light weight, Tyler (Schiller) keeps the ride and he knows the horse well.
“He had a really soft trial earlier in the week as well and that should see him cherry-ripe for the Magic Millions in three weeks, that’s the main target, otherwise he wouldn’t be in work.”
Chrysaor has won three of his 10 starts and showed enough precocity as a two-year-old to place in the BTC Sires’ Produce Stakes.
However, Duckworth believes the colt is only coming into his own now.
“He was probably doing things as a two-year-old that he wasn’t mentally and physically ready to do but his ability was carrying him through,” he said.
“He should take a bit of beating both on Saturday and in the Magic Millions. He’s a talented animal.”
Chrysoar was also nominated for the Listed Gosford Guineas (1200m) on December 28, but Duckworth said that was only ever a back-up in case he drew off the track at Randwick.
Instead, the three-year-old has come up with barrier six and will be one of two Schweppes Handicap runners for the stable along with seasoned campaigner Lord Ardmore.
Duckworth expects the latter to improve on whatever he does but says the likelihood of a soft track will help.
“He’s getting older and they do just tend to take a bit more to get fully race fit,” Duckworth said.
“But I think with the rain in Sydney, it should help him. He will appreciate a softer surface to resume on.
“He’s more than capable of running well first-up.”
The Bjorn Baker-trained Battleton resumes in the same race and like Chrysaor, is on trial for a Magic Millions trip, although his target is the $1 million Cup over 1400m.
“Hopefully he can run well enough to warrant going up for the Magic Millions, that’s definitely the plan with him and we’ll see how he goes,” Baker said.
“He is borderline in terms of his rating, so he needs to at least run well on Saturday (to get in).”