Charlton steps up as O’Shea ban bites

Randwick trainer Tom Charlton is hoping to settle in as the boss for the next three months with a couple of Stakes winners at Gosford and Morphettville on the weekend.

After his training partner, John O’Shea, had a four-month disqualification reconfirmed this week, Charlton has been keeping the Randwick stable running and has an exciting couple of months ahead.

“We have good horses and staff, so it makes it a bit easier,” Charlton said. “I’ll just keep everything the same and hopefully we can (get) some results.”

He will turn to Sarrismo, Maison Louis and Polymnia on Saturday to try to get a first Stakes win in his own right, while Napoleonic and Linebacker will line up in the Doomben 10,000 next weekend.

Sarrismo is unbeaten this preparation in three runs, which started at Warwick Farm, then headed to Queensland before winning a spot in the Big Dance in the Orange Cup last time out. He still gets in on the limit in The Coast, worth $500,000, over the 1600m at Gosford.

“He has taken every step up we have asked him to this preparation and has really started to put it together,” Charlton said. “He has done a bit (of) travel but he has handled it well.”

“It is another level on the weekend, but he will make his own luck in front and we have been really happy with him.”

Queensland Derby winner Maison Louis gets to his trip second-up in the Gosford Cup after he closed off well to finish midfield over 1500m on return at Randwick on ANZAC Day.

“He needs to get up to this sort of trip [2100m] to be at his best. He ran third in the Hill Stakes [behind Lindermann] second-up in the spring and if he runs up to that run, he would be right in this race,” Charlton said. “He is one we could look to get back to Queensland for the winter.”

“We are also sending Polymnia over to Adelaide where there is a nice race for her. It could be a big day on Saturday.”