Jerome Hunter to decide Group 1 target for Wonder Boy after McNeil Stakes on Saturday

Jerome Hunter has two Group 1 targets in mind for Wonder Boy after the McNeil Stakes on Saturday, but his performance will determine which race to aim for.

Mornington trainer Jerome Hunter will have some thinking to do irrespective of whether stable star Wonder Boy wins Saturday’s Group 3 McNeil Stakes at Caulfield.

Wonder Boy emerged as a sprinting talent with a debut win at Flemington in June before running on well first-up when third in the Vain Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on August 17.

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Hunter said the 1100m was short of Wonder Boy’s right distance but the race was the perfect place at which to start the son of Cosmic Force’s three-year-old campaign.

Wonder Boy will jump to 1200m in the McNeil Stakes.

His performance will help Hunter decide whether to aim Wonder Boy for the Caulfield Guineas over 1600m or the Coolmore Stud Stakes over 1200m at Flemington later in the spring.

“We’ll see how he goes on Saturday then decide whether we keep him at the 12(00m) or go up to 1400(m) for his next start,” Hunter said.

“He’s got the physique of a sprinter but it’s still up in the air whether 1400(m) to a mile will suit him.

“If it was a 1200m race the other day he would have won, that’s what (jockey) Luke (Currie) said.

“But fitness wise, I didn’t want to give him a gut-buster first-up.

“It was the perfect type of race for him.”

Wonder Boy will be better suited stepping up to 1200m in the McNeil Stakes on Saturday. Picture: Ross Holburt/Racing Photos

Hunter said Wonder Boy was a powerfully built galloper but his smooth action left him unsure of the gelding’s best distance.

However, he said Wonder Boy would remain a backmarker early in his races, irrespective of the distance of his races.

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“He relaxes early and runs on. There’s no point taking him out of his comfort zone,” Hunter said.

“We tried it in an early trial and it didn’t work.

“He’s got a beautiful low action, just a hybrid action that helps him cruise.”

Wonder Boy is an $8 chance in TAB’s early McNeil Stakes market in which the Ciaron Maher-trained Growing Empire is the $2.25 favourite.

Originally published as Jerome Hunter to decide Group 1 target for Wonder Boy after McNeil Stakes on Saturday