Exciting colt Straight Charge powers to effortless victory at Randwick

Boom colt Straight Charge charged to Magic Millions favouritism after a brilliant win at Randwick which was what Gai Waterhouse expected.

Tim Clark and Straight Charge races to an easy win at Randwick on Saturday. Picture: Getty Images

When Tim Clark called Gai Waterhouse on Saturday morning, she gave the top jockey a simple message about what to expect from highly-promising colt Straight Charge at Royal Randwick.

“She said he won’t win, he will annihilate them,” Clark said.

As Clark would later acknowledge, Gai was spot on.

Straight Charge continued Waterhouse and co-trainer Adrian Bott’s brilliant start to the season with two-year-olds when he raced into Magic Millions 2YO Classic equal favouritism with a demolition job on home turf.

It saw TAB slash Straight Charge’s odds from $5 into $3.50 for the Gold Coast feature and put him on the same line of betting as stablemate Storm Boy, which maintained his unbeaten record with a brilliant Group 3 B.J McLachlan Stakes at Eagle Farm romp on Saturday.

Straight Charge the @GaiWaterhouse1 and Adrian Bott 2yo colt takes out the opener at Randwick! pic.twitter.com/r3NwyDNoHl

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 23, 2023

The two Tulloch Lodge colts are now on a collision course for the $2 million main event on January 13.

Straight Charge had been a maiden before this weekend but lived up to a couple of brilliant trial performances on his home track.

The smart son of Written By never gave his rivals a look in from out in front to salute in the Drinkwise 2YO Plate (1100m).

“You can often see them trial well and then get to the races and not produce it but he was really good there,” Clark said.

“He showed that brilliant speed that he has got and was able to quicken off that.

“Although he had the two strong trials, he will still take a bit of improvement off that.

“I just loved the way he handled himself.

“I know he has had the preparation but he just walked across the road and didn’t turn a hair really so it was good to see.”

Bott was in Brisbane to see Storm Boy line up in the B.J McLachlan Stakes and the son of Justify made the trip worthwhile with a strong performance.

He was just as pleased with what he saw from Straight Charge while in transit to the Sunshine State.

Clark mustered Straight Charge out of the gates early and the progressive colt showed good early speed to find his way to the front.

Straight Charge ($1.60) then charged away in the straight with a 3-3/4 length win from the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Erno’s Cube ($6.50) while the James Cummings-trained Pisces ($6) was half a length back in third.

“It was really good and that is what we were hoping to see from him,” Bott said.

“The way he came back, he’s showing good improvement off that last preparation.

The short priced favourite Storm Boy gets in done in race 6 at Eagle Farm! 💪 @GaiWaterhouse1pic.twitter.com/gg4dHMqeQR

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 23, 2023

“He still has that great tactical speed which is a big asset to him.”

Yulong purchased Straight Charge for $270,000 at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and the colt has been quick to show himself as a bargain buy.

Straight Charge finished second to smart stablemate Espionage in the Group 3 Breeders’ Plate on September 30 before going one better at his second start.

“A few of those horses behind him have had recent runs which were good but there is no doubt that Breeders’ Plate form that we have seen stand up already,” Bott said.

“Traditionally it is a good form race going forward.

“It was good to see him take that improvement though because last prep he was still a bit new and didn’t quite know how to put them away where he was able to quicken up nicely on Saturday.”

“He will go straight to the Magic Millions now. That should see him qualified and ready to go.”

Waterhouse and Bott’s endless hand of smart colts continues to improve with each passing week.

While the likes of Espionage and Shangri La Express are already been prepared for the autumn, Straight Charge will join Storm Boy in Queensland next month.

Clark rode Storm Boy in his debut victory at Rosehill Gardens last month before Adam Hyeronimus took over for his Brisbane assault.

“I think this horse (Straight Charge) is faster, but Storm Boy has got a lot of depth to him,” Clark said.

“They’re both extremely talented.”

Waterhouse and Bott have already had six two-year-old wins this season and boast the favourites for the Magic Millions and Golden Slipper in their armoury.

Originally published as Exciting colt Straight Charge powers to effortless victory at Randwick