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By Ray Hickson

He might only have five starts under his belt but Yorkshire is on a fast track to open company and can enhance his reputation at Wyong on Saturday.

Tom Charlton (Pic: Bradley Photos)

That’s the view of co-trainer Tom Charlton about the four-year-old who carries a decent form upgrade into his second-up assignment in the Royal Hotel Wyong Handicap (1350m).

The gelding tussled with Accredited, one of the finds of the summer who completed a hat-trick winning easily last weekend, when he resumed at Randwick three weeks ago and while narrowly beaten, on the track and in the stewards room, Charlton said the run showed he’s on the way up.

“A few things went wrong for him first-up and got crossed a bit early by Accredited, which we protested about, and he’s got good improvement,’’ Charlton said.

“He’s had a few form boosts over the weekend and he’s a horse with plenty of scope.

“Depending on how much he can improve we think he can get to open class this time in.

“There wasn’t much between him and Accredited the other day and I’d imagine Accredited would perhaps go to the Carrington Stakes in a couple of weeks and be one of the favourites.”

It was the first time Yorkshire, $1.85 with TAB on Wednesday, didn’t lead in a race and Charlton, who co-trains with John O’Shea, said it was encouraging to see him adapt to being ridden differently.

He said that versatility is a good asset for jockey Billy Loughnane to have at his disposal at Wyong as is his ability to handle all types of ground.

“Although he was leading last preparation he wasn’t able to do that last time and it was fine, it wasn’t our intention to lead,’’ Charlton said.

“When Accredited crossed him the other day he got keen for a couple of strides so I think that’s him still adapting to his racing craft.

“He’s learning a bit more on the go as a result and he should continue to furnish.

“He handles most ground and we’d see him being very competitive, he’s a horse we can see going through his grades.”

Meanwhile, Charlton is adamant import Inquiring Minds is racing like a horse ready to stretch out in distance and that view is put to the test in the De Bortoli Wines Handicap (2100m).

The five-year-old notched his third Australian win in a close finish over the Randwick mile two weeks ago and Saturday’s race will be his first attempt beyond 1800m since August 2023.

“He was excellent at the mile. He’s raced over a mile and a half in England previously and when we bought him we felt it was looking a bit of a stretch,’’ Charlton said.

“He’s always been quite a sharp horse in his trials and lady preparation for us. When winning the other day it was shaping he needed every inch of that mile and a tough mile at that.

Yorkshire runs second at Randwick on December 21

“We think he’ll handle Wyong, he puts himself in a good position, and it’s not the stiffest 2100m in the country.

“It looks the right stepping stone for him and it’ll be interesting to see how he handles the step out in trip.”

Apprentice Zac Wadick continues his association with Inquiring Minds at Wyong and with 55kg after the claim he’ll carry 3kg less than in his last start win.

All the fields, form and replays for Wednesday’s Warwick Farm meeting