Roger Charlton: Three year-old's give hope of exciting year ahead

News / Timeform / 30 January 2012 / Leave a Comment

Roger Charlton could enjoy success with his three year-old's this season.

"Top Offer is open to a significant amount of improvement, and was impressive enough on debut to earn quotes of [17.5] for the 2000 Guineas and [27.0] for the Derby..."

Timeform take a look at a number of three year-old's from the Roger Charlton yard, reviewing what they have achieved to date and what they may go on to accomplish in the coming Flat season...

Top Offer (96P) is a really exciting prospect with a physique, pedigree and temperament to give him a great chance in the future. He was well-supported when making an impressive debut in August at Newbury, winning a 15 runner seven furlong maiden race by three and a half lengths from Pulverize, displaying a good turn of foot and drawing clear without coming under any strong pressure.

A few weeks later he got loose, sustaining a cut to a leg which prevented him from running again before the end of the season. His maiden race was full of well-bred sorts and although it did not strike as being particularly strong, three of those in-behind went on to win next time and two finished runner-up. He is open to a significant amount of improvement, and was impressive enough on debut to earn quotes of [17.5] for the 2000 Guineas and [27.0] for the Derby; it will be fascinating to see how he progresses this season.

Rex Imperator (98p) is a gelding with plenty of speed in his pedigree being by Royal Applause out of Elidore, who was officially rated 95 and by the speed influence Danetime. He won a weak maiden race at Nottingham in August by seven lengths from Heartsong on his second start, before producing several other creditable efforts.

However, his best performance came at Ascot in the Cornwallis Stakes (Group 3), where, having badly missed the break, he finished fifth of 16 to Ponty Acclaim. It can be difficult for three year olds sprinters to find winning opportunities due to the lack of suitable races, but the hope is that he will develop into a decent horse capable of running in Group races before the end of the year.

Estrela (93p) is from the Derby winner Authorized's first crop, and out of the good race mare Wannabe Grand who won the Cheveley Park Stakes (Group 1) and was second in the 1000 Guineas.

Estrela ran for the first time at Salisbury at the end of September over a mile, finishing fifth to Oxford Charley having been drawn wide. In her second race she put up a much better effort when winning a 17 runner race at Newbury in October by four and a half lengths from Westwiththenight, always travelling well in front before drawing clear.

It will be interesting to see whether she can stay beyond a mile as her pedigree sends out mixed signals, with a combination of stamina and speed. She is a half-sister to six winners, including King of Argos and Wannabe King, and she could well be up to contesting black type races during the season.

Mince (91p) is a strong and good bodied Medicean filly out of Strut who had plenty of speed and won three of her 11 starts including the St Hugh's Stakes, a Listed race over 5 furlongs. She missed the break in her first race at Newbury in July, but she followed up in September by winning a six furlong maiden on the same course.

She was perhaps fortunate to be given a handicap rating of 70 which enabled her to win a nursery at Pontefract by five lengths from See Clearly, always travelling strongly and quickening well to lead a furlong out before being eased close home.

She was probably unsuited to the drop back to 5 furlongs on heavy ground at Haydock later in the month where she was beaten a nose by Ballesteros. In time, she may be capable of contesting Listed races over six or seven furlongs, but with a handicap mark of 85 she is likely to start her 2012 campaign in a valuable sprint handicaps for three year olds.

Priceless Jewel (80p) has reportedly grown more than two inches during the year and she has developed into an attractive filly. In her second start at Newbury she showed considerable improvement when winning a nine runner maiden race by two and a quarter lengths from Tawaasul, travelling well in front and quickening up to go clear in the closing stages.

Her dam, My Branch, was third in the Irish 1000 Guineas and her best progeny to date was Tante Rose who won the Haydock Sprint Cup (Group 1) in 2009. She showed plenty of speed when winning over six furlongs at Newbury but her pedigree would suggest that she could stay a mile and there should be plenty to look forward to from her during the season.

Silver Lime (79p) is by Mizzen Mast (USA) and his dam, Red Dot, is a half sister to Flute (USA) who won the Kentucky Oaks amongst other good races in America. He is also from the family that has produced Brian Boru, the St Leger winner and more recently Workforce.

His first race at Sandown in September was full of promise, finishing fifth behind Farraaj (112) and Surfer (101), and he went on to win a seven runner eight furlong maiden race at Ffos Las by a head from Journalistic on very heavy ground in October. He should stay at least 10 furlongs and go on to win more races.

Inchina (76p) is from a family that Charlton will know quite well, having trained several of her relations including the dual Group winning and successful sire Inchinor, who is a half brother to her dam Incheni.

Inchina made her debut at Newbury in a maiden race for fillies over a mile in October, putting up a very encouraging effort to finish a length and a half third of 15 to Shirocco Star, having shown signs of inexperience before staying on well. Her appealing pedigree, being by Montjeu and out of a mare by Nashwan, is a definite positive and she should stay a mile and a half.

CLICK HERE to read more about the horses Roger Charlton has to go to war with this season.