By Ray Hickson
The form guide makes a compelling case for Czarson to return a winner at Randwick on Monday but as happy as he is with the youngster co-trainer Adrian Bott has offered a small word of warning.
He was a giant killer before they were giants - easy wins over the subsequent Golden Slipper champ Kiamichi and Magic Millions winner Exhilarates at his first two starts back in the early summer are hard to miss, and he beat both fillies by a clear two lengths.
The caution from Bott ahead of the Easter Monday Handicap (1000m) has nothing to do with the form but it’s the fact the colt’s target is over a mile this campaign.
“The 1000m could be a bit short of his best but hopefully class can get him through,’’ Bott said.
“We’re training him to get up to a mile, we thought as he develops he will appreciate a bit further which is how it is looking.’’
Czarson wins his barrier trial at Newcastle on April 5
Some consideration was given to an autumn campaign for Czarson after he finished fourth in the Magic Millions Classic (1200m) on January 12 but Bott said time was against him.
But as Kiamichi claimed the Golden Slipper, he admits to wondering what could have been.
“I was thinking at the time, ‘why isn’t he there’ but hopefully we’ve made the right call for him,’’ Bott said.
“It was a high pressure race (at the Gold Coast) and I thought he ran really well, he’d just reached the end of the campaign.’’
Czarson, conceding 4.5kg or more to the entire field, is the $2.60 favourite with TAB on the strength of his form to make it three from four and Josh Parr, fresh from his Group 1 win on Castelvecchio on Saturday, takes the ride.
Bott said he and co-trainer Gai Waterhouse have been pleased with what the youngster has produced in his two trials, particularly in the way he finished off the 800m in his win at Newcastle on April 8.
He’s expecting Czarson to have the sharpness to settle in the first four and if that’s what unfolds his ability will have the chance to come into play.
“He’s had two nice trials to come back and he has a lot of improvement, it’s early days considering where we intend to get him,’’ he said.
“But he’s the class horse and hopefully that will shine through.’’
The race Waterhouse and Bott are targeting is the Group 1 JJ Atkins Stakes (1600m) during the Brisbane Winter Carnival.
All the fields, form and replays for Monday’s Kensington meeting at Randwick