Norm Hilton is hoping stable flag bearers Bold Glance and Carry Me Bluey can play starring roles in Sydney and Brisbane over the next few months.
Last year’s Doncaster Mile third placegetter, Bold Glance has been in work since early November after undergoing surgery to remove bone chips.
He will be given his first serious test when he runs in a barrier trial at Doomben on Tuesday week.
The six-year-old will follow a similar program as last year towards his autumn goals in the Group One George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill and Group One Doncaster Mile at Randwick.
He will resume in the Listed Falvelon Quality (1200m) at Eagle Farm on February 25 before attempting to defend his victory in last year’s Gold Coast Stakes in March.
After a successful summer, Carry Me Bluey returned to Hilton’s stables last week following a short break.
Hilton had also hoped to take Carry Me Bluey to Sydney for the Doncaster but has settled instead on a winter carnival campaign directed at the Group One Stradbroke handicap at Eagle Farm in June.
“I haven’t looked at a program for him in the winter yet but he’s being aimed for the Stradbroke,” Hilton said.
“We looked at taking him away to Sydney with Bold Glance but he had a long campaign last time and only had one break away from the stables for three weeks.
“Sydney didn’t quite fit for him so we’ll just target the Stradbroke.”
Carry Me Bluey emerged as one of Queensland’s top sprinter-milers during the spring and early summer.
All told he has won five of 10 starts since being transferred to the Toowoomba based Hilton in the middle of last year.
After narrowly going down to Wonderful Lass in the Listed Recognition Stakes, Carry Me Bluey won over 1600 metres at Eagle Farm on December 17 then was rested after finishing fourth in the Listed Bernborough Handicap (1615m) at Doomben won by Kontiki Park.
After being placed in both the Doncaster and the earlier Prelude, Bold Glance returned for the Brisbane winter carnival but failed in both the Group Three BTC Sprint at Doomben and Group One Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm.
“We always knew he had some wear and tear issues when we brought him back from Sydney for the winter and his knee problem surfaced again,” Hilton said.
Hilton has been training for 25 years but it has only been in the pasts few seasons that he has made his mark with horses such as Bold Glance and 2010 Toorak Handicap placegetter Poor Judge.
AAP TURF
