Missile Stakes locked in for Napoleonic

The Missile Stakes is shaping as an early season target for progressive sprinter Napoleonic, who is among a host of stars preparing to step out at a hot barrier trial session at Randwick.

Originally scheduled for Friday, the trials were moved to Monday due to the wet track but have lost none of their appeal, with top mares Autumn Glow and Aeliana, Rosehill Guineas winner Autumn Boy and classy French import Barnavara among those scheduled to appear.

That quartet are all prepared by Chris Waller, who said the session’s postponement to this week was no issue.

“Everything that was nominated to race Friday will trial Monday,” Waller said.

“We’re well ahead of schedule so missing a few days is not a problem.”

The Tom Charlton and John O’Shea-trained Napoleonic will clash with Autumn Glow and Autumn Boy in his 900m heat, the hit-out likely to be the first of two trials before he resumes in the Group 2 Missile Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on August 8.

The colt is coming off a two-start Brisbane campaign in which he finished third behind Rothfire and Spicy Martini in the Doomben 10,000 (1200m) then was soundly beaten in the Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m) taken out by Headley Grange.

“He will work towards a Missile Stakes at this stage,” Charlton said.

“He had a freshen up after Queensland then came back and spelled in Sydney.

“His run in the (Doomben) 10,000 was excellent and then he didn’t quite follow it through in the Kingsford-Smith. He travelled like he was going to run very well, so maybe the 1300 just tested him that day second-up off a big performance first-up.

“We’ll give some thought to keeping him to the sprints.”

Charlton and O’Shea will have a strong presence at Monday’s trials with stayer Sam Hawkens also slated to go around in a 1200m heat.

Formerly prepared by William Haggas in England, Sam Hawkens didn’t quite perform to expectations at his initial campaign for his new conditioners, but with that experience under his belt, Charlton is hoping he can step up to the plate in the spring.

“He was a bit disappointing in the autumn,” Charlton said.

“He will probably look to resume in something like the Premier’s Cup Prelude then work through those staying races.

“He has always shown a good bit. Hopefully he can get his confidence back and we can go from there.”

The Premier’s Cup Prelude (1800m) forms part of the Missile Stakes undercard.