Sydney colt Charlie Boy laid down the gauntlet to the best sprinting three year-olds down south with a brilliant first-up victory in the G2 Danehill Stakes (1200m) at Flemington.

The promising son of Vinery sire Myboycharlie (Ire) defeated a cavalry charge down the straight for a deserved breakthrough at black-type level on Saturday.

Charlie Boy (3c Myboycharlie – Maritime by Falbrav) came from a seemingly hopeless position to win the coveted Danehill Stakes with just three others behind him in the 15-horse field with 400m left.
The colt unleashed a brilliant finish to rush past his rivals and fend off the challenge from last start Group 3 winner Kiss A Rose with highly rated SA colt Éclair Big Bang back in third.

“He’s here for the Caulfield Guineas,” jockey Michael Rodd said.  “He’s all quality and put his hand up at the right time.  He was very strong on the line and will be peaking on Guineas day.”

The winner is raced by a Triple Crown Syndicate after changing hands for $80,000 at the 2012 Gold Coast Magic Millions.  He’s the first foal from an unraced daughter of G1 AJC Flight Stakes winner Pontal Lass (Marauding).

Trainer Gerald Ryan produced Charlie Boy to win an early-season scamper at Rosehill in November 2012 before close-up placings in the G2 Silver Slipper Stakes and G2 Todman Stakes.  “We sat down and planned his spring in May,” Ryan said.  “If it looks like he won’t get 1600 metres we can bring him back to the sprints.”

Connections will make a final decision on a start for the Caulfield Guineas after the G2 Guineas Prelude over 1400m on September 21.

Charlie Boy is the first stakeswinner for his sire who also produced the G2 runner-up Charlestown  and Dowdstown Charlie from his first Australasian crop.

Vinery has raised Myboycharlie’s service fee to $16,500 (inc gst) this year on the back of a brilliant start at stud.  A Danehill-line stallion through Danetime, he was France’s Champion 2YO in 2007 and has sired 14 individual winners to date from his first crops in Australia and Europe.  With a reputation for stamping his stock Myboycharlie covered over 190 mares in Australia last season and over 170 in France.