Three-year-old sprinter Wonder Boy to tackle older horses in Group 3 Standish Handicap at Flemington

Not progressing too far into the spring could set up quality three-year-old Wonder Boy for a bumper autumn, starting in Saturday’s Group 3 Standish Handicap at Flemington.

Smart three-year-old Wonder Boy will step up to tackle the older horses in Saturday’s Group 3 Standish Handicap. Picture: Racing Photos

Sacrificing the spring could provide the springboard to a lucrative autumn for Standish Handicap hopeful Wonder Boy.

The Cosmic Force gelding impressed when running on hard to win down the Flemington straight course on debut last June before taking on smart company as an early spring three-year-old.

Trainer Jerome Hunter ended Wonder Boy’s campaign after he finished fifth in a Listed race over 1400m at Flemington in mid-September to give the sprinter more time to mature.

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“He’d been in quite a while so he was ready for a spell anyway,” Hunter said.

“Since he’d won at Flemington, he’d only had a couple of weeks off and he’d been in a long time so we just pulled the pin and knew he’d probably come back better in the autumn.

“He’s definitely above average so we’re definitely looking forward to seeing what he’s got over the autumn.

“I thought I’d just start him off earlier and try to get a couple of wins before the big boys come back.”

Wonder Boy finished only 1-¼ lengths from subsequent The Everest placegetter Growing Empire in the Group 3 McNeil Stakes at Caulfield, beating home Caulfield Guineas runner-up Feroce.

Wonder Boy with a great performance on debut to win our first of the day, the RDA Peninsula Jenny Stidston Sprint.

📽 @racingpic.twitter.com/k9aTkMV4CP

— Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) June 8, 2024

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Hunter said Wonder Boy had shown his mental improvement in three Mornington jumpouts leading up to his return in Saturday’s Group 3 feature.

“He’s come along well and is ticking all the boxes,” Hunter said.

“He’s had a few trials so he’s ready to go.

“I think he has improved mentally and his trials have shown that he’s more of a racehorse now.

“His jumpouts have shown that he’s more on the bunny now and travels well.

“Mentally, we’ve got a more mature horse and physically, he’s always been a big lump of a horse “

Wonder Boy is an $8 chance in early betting on the $200,000 Standish Handicap behind Godolphin sprinter Pereille and in-form Sydney sprinter Iowna Merc, who share favouritism at $5.

Hunter said Wonder Boy would improve from his first-up outing, no matter the result.

“He can only improve because nothing beats race fitness. He has won first-up over 1200 and the next step is going to races,” Hunter said.

Originally published as Three-year-old sprinter Wonder Boy to tackle older horses in Group 3 Standish Handicap at Flemington