Bred along classic lines, Tom Charlton is the latest boom colt from abroad to crash training in Sydney, once prized ground for locals.
To get a toehold at Randwick was akin to a position as a tally clerk on the shipping terminals when the Waterside Workers’ Federation had more pull here than Peter V’Landys over New South Wales racing.
Perhaps the floodgates haven’t opened, but the steady stream of other nationalities are making their mark, particularly in New South Wales.
Of course this doesn’t include New Zealanders, long contributors to the local scene, but never previously with the dominance of Chris Waller.
Now Annabel Archibald, another Pom in a partnership with husband Rob, is fourth in the Sydney trainer’s premierships, while at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, outsiders Nacim Dilmi, from France is a contributor, and so, too, David Payne (South Africa), with Liam Roddy (Scotland) another inclusion.
Charlton, though, holds what could be a trump card with Roselyn’s Star in the Schweppes Handicap to beat Ice Kool ($1.70), the hottest favourite on the program, with Ruddy’s Aviatress a query horse against them.
Like so many, Charlton – son of an English Derby winner, Roger, and brother of Harry who trains in Wiltshire – came here for experience, gained in his stint with John O’Shea, a grumpy young man with a great eye for turf talent.
O’Shea is now serving time for what some consider trivial, but if Racing NSW could do so it would put him in the stocks for public condemnation.
(Editor note: Stocks refer to a historical device of corporal punishment and psychological torture. They consist of hinged wooden boards with holes used to lock a person’s ankles, and sometimes wrists or head, in place. The device forced the captive into a seated or immobilized position in public, exposing them to scorn, ridicule, and various abuses.)
Usually those seeking knowledge in the Colonies arrived like Dermot Weld, the Irish training genius who spent time at Tulloch Lodge. Weld returned home with a passion for Banjo Paterson and a lust for the Melbourne Cup.
Charlton joined O’Shea in 2019 and did time as a strapper, elevated in the batting order before a partnership and then taking reins in the absence of O’Shea.
Over the past week Charlton has added class to the Grafton carnival, the battleground of successful plunges for a century.
Perhaps in recent years, with so much prizemoney pelf elsewhere, the punt at Grafton has subsided but Charlton’s double, in the South Grafton Cup last Sunday with Mr Chaplin and King Pedro (Grafton Cup) produced quality.
The Grafton Cup has a Melbourne Cup winner, Kensei (1987), and King Pedro is only a four-year-old who overcame difficulties to score under Kerrin McEvoy, also successful in Australia’s major staying event.
An import like Charlton, Mr Chaplin has only had three Aussie starts, and will take better races than the South Grafton Cup. Ironically the gelding downed Fortune, prepared by the Archibalds, and he’s no slouch with two Randwick wins.
Roselyn’s Star is making her debut for Charlton but in two barrier trials has been difficult to keep on ground level but takes on Ice Kool, placed to perfection by trainer David Pfieffer.
Still barrier antics could be vital. Ice Kool was tardy early when she carried 60kg to overwhelm Petticoat over the Randwick 1000 metres on June 20. Ice Kool has to extend another 1000 metres and drops to 525kg but Roselyn’s Star is better than what she has met to date.
So, too, Aviatress, effective in Group company. Recently acquired by Ruddy, she has been described by him as “quite fierce and hard to deal with”.
Again, the start kicks in. She’s not flash early. Aviatress gets a barrier blanket for the first time that often assists.
“In New South Wales we’re allowed to use Regumate that helps her control her hormones so I’m really excited to see how she performs with it,” Ruddy told the Daily Telegraph’s Jett Hatton. A vital gear change?
Dilmi, too, has barrier queries in the Midway. Piperita, was slow out last start, and so, too, stablemate Koios, who is shorter in the market in the same event.
The private trainer for Domeland, Dilmi also saddles up Viewpoint in the Find Your Stakes, while the South African Payne, well acclimatised to Australian conditions, has War Ribbon, an outsider in the Jane McDonald. But that’s when Payne is at his most lethal.
Apart from the armies of Waller and Ciaron Maher, the Archibalds probably have biggest numbers. Currently they are fourth in the National Trainers Premiership with 207.5 winners from 1428 runners and a spread throughout Saturday’s Rosehill program.
They could have a role in the Racing And Sports with Coco Jamboo, another barrier risk, and Sir Artie, hardly flash out of the gates. Both Sir Artie and rider, Mollie Fitzgerald, are going well.
“Australia’s been great, as has John, who I’ve loved working with and look forward to doing so again in the future,” Charlton told “Racing Post”.
“Training has always been an aspiration of mine, and racing is an industry that’s thriving here.”
