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Anderson pair on trial for Sydney autumn

19 February 2020

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By Glenn Davis

Trainer Chris Anderson’s plans for an ambitious Sydney autumn campaign with Ballistic Boy and Profit will become a little clearer after the pair clash at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Ballistic Boy was nominated for the Hobartville Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday but Anderson felt the Group 2 feature was too strong at this stage of the gelding’s campaign.

The son of Smart Missile will instead stay at home to run against stablemate Profit in the QTIS Three-Year-Old Handicap (1400m).

“I would have preferred to keep them apart as they are both being aimed at the autumn races in Sydney,” Anderson said.

“The Hobartville looked a pretty strong race for Ballistic Boy so it’s better if he stays at home for now.

“They’re both on the same path and are on trial for the Rosehill and Randwick Guineas and ATC Derby.”

Anderson has always had a big opinion of both gallopers and feels they will be better over longer distances.

Ballistic Boy, a Brad Stewart mount, has won only once in seven starts but raced in top company as a two-year-old during last year’s Brisbane winter carnival.

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 last year.

Anderson tested Ballistic Boy in Sydney last October when he finished fourth in the $1 million Bondi Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.

“Ballistic Boy’s run in the Bondi Stakes was enormous and he had six weeks in the paddock after it," Anderson said.

"He'll take plenty of improvement from Saturday’s run."

Anderson has freshened Profit since the gelding finished seventh to Alligator Blood in the Magic Millions Guineas at the Gold Coast last month.

“He never got on the track in the Magic Millions Guineas and he’s had a 10-day break since then,” he said.

“I’m taking it race by race with both of them and I’m not expecting them to win although it’ll be great if they do.

“This is more of a trial race to see if they are up to going to Sydney and if they don’t run well, I’ll reassess things after Saturday.”

Profit, a son of multiple Group 1 winning sire Dundeel, cost $280,000 at the Magic Millions sales and is part owned by the late Dato Tan Chin Nam's Think Big Stud as is Ballistic Boy who was a $100,000 buy as a yearling.

Racing Queensland webnews  February 19