Charlie Boy will ramp up his Melbourne spring campaign in the G3 Guineas Prelude (1400m) at Caulfield this Sunday.

The Sydney colt had the option of taking on older horses in the G1 Sir Rupert Clark Stakes (1400m) but trainer Gerald Ryan elected to keep the three year-old in his own age group.

Charlie Boy (3c Myboycharlie – Maritime by Falbrav) will attempt to become the first horse to complete the G2 Danehill Stakes – G3 Guineas Prelude.  He was a brilliant winner of the Flemington feature a fortnight ago.

The son of Vinery sire Myboycharlie is on target for the G1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October 12.  “I didn’t really want to bottom him out against the older horses,” Ryan said.  “His work has been terrific, he went better than Second Effort earlier this week at Caulfield.

“Charlie Boy will relish 1600 metres and we may even have a look at him over 2000 metres in the AAMI Vase before going out for a spell.”

Myboycharlie gelding Dowdstown Charlie will also appreciate a longer journey in the G3 Gloaming Stakes (1800m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

Dowdstown Charlie (3g Myboycharlie – Raindane by Danehill Dancer) worked home nicely last time out in the G3 Spring Stakes (1600m) at Newcastle.  Trainer David Payne is hoping for rain although the forecast for Sydney is sunny skies until Monday.

Payne has also nominated the gelding for the G1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on October 12.

The next new winner by Myboycharlie isn’t far away in Queensland – unraced gelding All Great Friends won a Gold Coast trial by four lengths on Tuesday morning.  He is from a half-sister to G1 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes winner Pillaging (Marauding).

Myboycharlie is Irish bred son of Danetime and was named Champion French 2YO in 2007.  He is standing for a $16,500 (inc gst) fee at Vinery this year.