By Glenn Davis
Trainer Chris Anderson hasn’t ruled out a trip interstate for talented three-year-old Ballistic Boy if the gelding is successful at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Ballistic Boy lines up against a slick field including topweight Gem Of Scotland, Xanthus and Miss Cavallo in the QTIS Three-Year-Old Handicap (1400m).
The son of Smart Missile produced an eye-catching second when flashing home to get within a head of the Matt Dunn-trained Xanthus over 1200 metres at Doomben on September 28.
It was his first run since the Brisbane winter carnival when he came from a long way back to run fifth in the Group 2 BRC Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) before finishing ninth in the Group 1 J J Atkins in June.
Ballistic Boy meets Xanthus on 1.5kgs better terms at the weights and Anderson believes he’ll be much better suited over 1400 metres at Eagle Farm.
“He’s always shown a lot of promise and he’s bred to stay,” Anderson said.
“He ran a super race in the Sires’ and his first run back last month was great.
“He was never on the bridle until the top of the straight at Doomben.
“He still might find them a bit too sharp in this but he’s definitely a top three chance and he’s more an Eagle Farm horse.”
Anderson has a Brisbane three-year-old race over 1600 metres in mind with Ballistic Boy in two weeks if he runs well but will consider heading interstate if he wins.
“If he wins, he could end up in either Sydney or Melbourne where there’s plenty of races for him,” he said.
“I think he’s a Derby horse in the making and he’ll be very hard to beat.
“Gem Of Scotland and Xanthus look the ones to beat but there’s a bit of doubt about the weather forecast.
“Some rain is predicted and Eagle Farm hasn’t had a real test yet in the wet.”
Ballistic Boy, who was a $100,000 buy as a yearling, ran in the J J Atkins and Sires’ Produce Stakes under the former joint venture with trainer Rob Heathcote.
The Anderson-Heathcote partnership which began in May was dissolved at the start of this month.
In latest TAB markets, Gem Of Scotland holds down favouritism at $2.60 with Ballistic Boy at $3.10 and Xanthus at $3.60.
Racing Queensland webnews October 11