The New Boy makes an impression
The New Boy will be given his chance at the Caulfield Guineas in the spring after he made up for an unlucky last start defeat with a narrow win at Flemington.
The Danny O'Brien-trained two-year-old was beaten a short-head by talented filly City Of Song in the Blue Sapphire Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield a week ago and was backing up in the Secondbite Plate (1400m).
Backed from $3.40 to start $3 favourite and ridden by Michael Rodd, The New Boy scored by short-head from Euryale ($4.60) with Scelto ($41) two lengths away third.
"He probably should be unbeaten. He was very unlucky last Saturday," O'Brien said.
"He stretched out to 1400 metres today. We'll put him aside now and bring him back in the spring.
"He's a sprinter-miler and we'll give him his chance to head towards the (Caulfield) Guineas.
The New Boy has won two of this three starts having won on debut at Cranbourne last month, .
"He's done everything right. He's pretty much a bomb-proof horse," O'Brien said.
"He leaves the gates well and finishes his races well"
The gelding cost $75,000 at the 2010 Sydney Easter Yearling Sale.
"He's looking a cheap horse," O'Brien said.
The New Boy impressed Rodd.
"The plan was to go forward today. I thought I might be in the first four but a couple charged and he was able to come back underneath me," he said.
"Once I put him out in the straight he felt like he was aways going to win but it was never going to be by much.
"He kept sort of pulling up and waiting for the next horse to challenge him and then he would accelerate.
"He doesn't know it yet but he's a good horse."
O'Brien also had dual Cox Plate winner So You Think's half-brother Now You Know making his debut in the race.
The Elusive City colt weakened to finish second last of the 10 runners after settling second.
"He's got plenty of talent. He's probably six months away but he needs to learn to to come back a bit and then finish off and once he does he'll be a nice horse," O'Brien said.
Story by Mark Ryan, to view full Bloodstock.com.au story click here
Photo by Slickpix, to view Slickpix website click here