Pimlico set for big-money maiden at Canterbury

There’s more than $130,000 worth of reasons for connections of the John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained Pimlico to hope the lightly raced colt can put it all together first-up at Canterbury today.

Pimlico is one of a number of three-year-olds eligible for a $100,000 Inglis Xtra bonus, plus he’s a BOBS horse, so the Irresistible Pools & Spas Plate (1200m) is not your run-of-the-mill midweek maiden.

Racing returns to Canterbury on Thursday.Credit: Jessica Shapiro

Tom Charlton said it’s not going to be an easy race to win, but he’s confident the colt does have the potential as he starts his second preparation.

“The penny is still dropping with him,” he said.

“He’s not the finished product yet, but he’s a talented horse and one that could progress well with racing and experience under his belt.

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“It’s going to be a decent race, it’s the start of spring, and it’s a $130,000 maiden for some of them.”

At his only start to date, Pimlico, ran third behind subsequent city winner Hidden Motive at Hawkesbury back in mid-May.

Charlton said that experience has been of benefit, based on how he’s returned and what he’s shown in his recent barrier trials.

“Over the 1100m that day at Hawkesbury, it probably all happened a bit quickly for Pimlico,” he said.

“He came a long way in that preparation from quite an inexperienced horse. We’re pleased with how we handled all of that, and he’s come back well and a more rounded individual.

“He’s quite a casual customer, and as you can see in his trials, he’s still learning the caper but has definitely got ability.

“When you watch his last trial, at the top of the straight he was pricking his ears, but when he was asked the question he knuckled down well.

“There’s probably a bit more under the bonnet than he might let on.”

Stablemate Pompatus is another three-year-old with one run under his belt, and Charlton said after a promising effort at his first outing, he can be expected to be competitive in the Agency Real Estate Handicap (1550m).

It was a heavy 10 at Newcastle almost three weeks ago, and the gelding overcame some adversity to run into third in a 1400m maiden.

“He’s come along really nicely, and we were pleased with his work going into that first-up run,” Charlton said.

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