Gollan looking to Charlie Boy to improve

A change of scenery and some new footwear could spark former top stakes performer Charlie Boy back to near his best at Doomben.

Charlie Boy is owned by a Triple Crown syndicate and has had stints with the Peter and Paul Snowden partnership in Sydney and Ciaron Maher in Melbourne.

The six-year-old has been well down on his best form recently and was sent to Tony Gollan at Eagle Farm after running last at Flemington in March.

Charlie Boy has a good record at Doomben where he won the 2015 Group Three BRC Sprint and was minor placed in two Doomben 10,000s (2015 and 2016).

Gollan said it was obvious Charlie Boy could win his share of races in Brisbane if he was to return to anywhere near that form.

“Triple Crown sent him here after his Flemington run was poor. He just wasn’t firing down there,” Gollan said.

“So we sent him for a good spell where he could be on the water walker and he has had two trials since returning to our stables. I was really pleased with them both and he seems to be enjoying himself.”

“He is a real old gentleman around the stables and a pleasure to train.”

Charlie Boy will also have several changes of gear for Saturday’s race.

“He has been racing in glue-on shoes so we will take those off and have normal racing plates,” Gollan said.

Charlie Boy will race without blinkers for the first time in six months and a lugging bit has also been removed.

Apprentice Lani Fancourt will take 1.5kg off Charlie Boy’s 61kg.

“Lani has ridden him in his trials and he has gone well for her,” Gollan said.

“Often you find with these older horses they go well later in their careers for kids. It is a case of the horse telling the rider where he wants to be.”

Credit: AAP

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