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By Ray Hickson

There are no spring plans in place yet for promising youngster Getafix but co-trainer Tom Charlton expects him to blossom in the new season now he’s sporting a crucial gear change.

Tom Charlton (Pic: Bradley Photos)

Getafix, an impressive debut winner back in January, will be a gelding when he steps out in the Precise Air Handicap (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

Charlton, now training in partnership with John O’Shea, said the stable has always held Getafix in high regard but his antics weren’t helping him in his first preparation so he underwent the procedure after failing when thrown in the deep end in the Group 2 Todman Stakes.

“He was always quite energetic and showed signs of coltiness in both his starts so we decided to geld him, which has shown a big improvement,’’ Charlton said.

“It was a really strong Todman and I think it came a bit too quick for him and we decided to pull the pin. Hopefully he might end up in that grade one day.

“He’s a really big, strong, scopey, horse and he’s going to continue to improve and progress as he gets older.

“What he did as an early two-year-old was more than we could have expected when we bought him.

“If he can shape with promise and be in the first three or four he will definitely build on that.”

After Getafix’s debut win, John O’Shea said the feeling was he’d come into his own when he stretches beyond 1200m and works his way up to a mile and Charlton confirmed that thought based on how he’s come back.

“I think we still feel that will end up being his trip,’’ he said.

“He is a Magic Millions horse so you have the 1400m race there and options in the spring before that. He’ll definitely get to 1400m and maybe a mile might prove his best in time.”

The greyish youngster has trialled twice, the latest of those last Friday over 1023m at Rosehill, and Charlton said he can expect a positive start to the campaign.

Kerrin McEvoy has been on board Getafix, $6.50 with TAB on Wednesday, in his trials and the main concern from Charlton is he’s giving away race hardiness to what looks a quality group of two-year-olds over a trip short of his best.

“We’d be happy with him running well against horses that have had a couple of runs under their belt that might have a fitness edge on him,’’ he said.

“His performances in his first couple of runs will tell us which direction he’s going to head.

“There are plenty of options in the next couple of months and his three-year-old season. We’ll learn about him as much as everyone else will in the next couple of runs.”

Getafix features in some of TAB’s pre-noms markets for the spring as a $51 chance in the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) in September and $26 chance in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) in late October.

Stablemate Awesome Wonder is chasing her first win in 11 months in The Agency Real Estate Handicap (2400m), though that’s only seven starts ago, and Charlton said she’ll put in her usual honest effort.

Getafix runs second in a Rosehill trial on July 12

The mare finished fifth in the Listed Gold Crown (2143m) at Eagle Farm three weeks ago and has been in the top three in five of her eight starts over Saturday’s distance.

“She’s been knocking on the door in this grade of race,’’ Charlton said.

“She’s probably just on the cusp of trying to obtain black type so back in grade, drawn well, we would expect her to be competitive again.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Rosehill meeting