Victorian trainer Danny O’Brien believes he has uncovered a Caulfield Guineas contender for the spring with his gun two-year-old The New Boy winning at Flemington last Saturday.
Rock Of Gibraltar gelding The New Boy posted his second career victory from three starts, saluting for the punters as the $3 favourite in the $70,000 SecondBite Plate (1400m) on his home track.
After scoring on debut over 1000m at Cranbourne back in April, The New Boy came into Saturday’s showdown on the back of a narrow second when beaten by a short-head by City Of Song in the Listed Blue Sapphire Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
“He probably should be unbeaten,” O’Brien said.
“He was very unlucky last Saturday (in the Blue Sapphire).”
The New Boy made amends for the Blue Sapphire with his win on the weekend, holding on to defeat Eurayle by a short-head while Scelto, a $41 roughie in the betting, was two lengths away for third.
“He stretched out to 1400m today,” O’Brien said after the win on Saturday.
“We’ll put him aside now and bring him back in the spring.”
Purchased for $75,000 at the 2010 Sydney Easter Yearling Sale, The New Boy is close to returning that back to his connections having amassed $69,475 in prize money to date.
That figure is sure to grow considerably in the spring as O’Brien has him earmarked as a livewire chance for the $1 million Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) in early October.
“He’s a sprinter miler and we’ll give him his chance to head towards the (Caulfield) Guineas,” O’Brien said.
“He’s done everything right.
“He’s pretty much a bomb-proof horse.
“He leaves the gates well and finishes his races well.”
Jockey Michael Rodd who was aboard the youngster for the first time on Saturday was also full of praise for The New Boy.
“He doesn’t know it yet but he’s a good horse,” the hoop said.
O’Brien also prepared the disappointment of the race with dual Cox Plate winner So You Think’s younger half-brother Now You Know beating home just one other runner when finishing ninth in their highly-anticipated debut.
“He’s got plenty of talent,” O’Brien said of Elusive City colt Now You Know.
“He’s probably six months away but he needs to learn to come back a bit and then finish off and once he does he’ll be a nice horse.”
