Charlton keen to see Satono Glow in clear air for Coolmore audition

Tom Charlton has his fingers crossed for better luck with Coolmore Stud Stakes prospect Satono Glow when she races in Sydney for the first time on Saturday since a sickening watch in the Percy Sykes Stakes.

Satono Glow has won three of her four starts, including an impressive last-start finish in the group 3 Cap D’Antibes Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on September 12, and steps out in the group 2 Roman Consul Stakes (1200m) on Saturday at Rosehill.

The first-up victory attracted interest from an Everest slot-holder but Charlton, co-trainer John O’Shea and connections chose to keep the filly on track to the group 1 Coolmore (1200m) at Flemington on October 31.

“There was a call about her, but we didn’t want to do that,” Charlton said.

“We were toying between the Danehill or this race, but ultimately we just preferred her preparation be in Sydney before a potential tilt at the Coolmore.”

Satono Glow, a $NZ260,000 buy at the 2025 Karaka Sale, won on debut at Warwick Farm before a three-length demolition job in the group 3 Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes at Flemington.

She then started a $5 hope in the group 2 Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m) at Randwick, where she looked set to unleash behind a wall of runners for most of the home straight before seeing clear air late to finish fourth. Zac Lloyd has the ride again on Saturday, after Jamie Melham was aboard for the Flemington wins.

“Unfortunately, it didn’t go our way, but we are happy with her anyway,” Charlton said of the Percy Sykes.

“Last start, it probably didn’t surprise us but the manner of her win, we thought it was a strong enough race on paper, but the way she won was impressive, and it was encouraging.”

Satono Glow was into gate nine of 12 with the scratchings of Hostwin King and Omolong on Thursday and was challenging for favouritism at $2.90 (TAB) with Bjorn Baker-trained Paradoxium ($2.60), which is coming off his own 1100m group 3 straight track win at Flemington, in the Poseidon Stakes.

Charlton and O’Shea also have Peyton ($41) in the Roman Consul. The Zoustar colt won a Gosford maiden first-up on August 28 but was then scratched at the barriers at Warwick Farm. In his first preparation he had placings behind subsequent Golden Rose placegetters Under Focus and St Gotthard. Kerrin McEvoy has the ride from barrier seven.

Charlton said the group 3 Red Anchor Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on October 24 could be a target after Saturday.

“He unfortunately just missed a run the other day when he played up in the barriers, so he probably hasn’t had the ideal preparation going into this race, but it’s important he has a run before maybe stepping towards another stakes race later in the carnival,” Charlton said.

“His form as a two-year-old was excellent, behind Next Episode, Under Focus and St Gotthard, so he’s going really well.”

The stable has King Pedro ($15) in the feature $2 million Hill Stakes (1900m) after initially nominating four. Mister Rizz and Starzintheireyes will instead run in race three, while Klondike was saved for the St Leger Stakes.

King Pedro, also with McEvoy to ride, announced himself as a potential Melbourne Cup horse after winning the Stayers and Grafton Cup in the winter. However, the five-year-old import was now likely to have a short spring and be aimed at the Sydney Cup in the autumn after illness delayed his return.

“It hasn’t been the ideal prep for him,” Charlton said.

“He was meant to go towards the Metropolitan and the cups in Melbourne, but he just got sick at the wrong time and missed the boat.

“He’s just been a bit behind, but he resumes on Saturday and we’re very happy with him.

“It’s short of his best and in a significantly harder grade than he’s been contesting, but I’m sure he can run a good race.”

In the $1.5 million Alan Brown Stakes (1400m), Charlton is confident Linebacker can challenge if given a better set-up, after he returned with a one and half-length fourth in the Bill Ritchie Handicap last start. The group 1 winner, heading towards the Five Diamonds, was an equal $6.50 favourite from gate 10.

“He was very good the other day,” Charlton said.

“It was slowly run race. He definitely wasn’t suited. I believe he was the only horse to run home in sub-33 [seconds for the last 600m], so that was a good effort. He’s certainly not 100 per cent just yet, but he’s going well enough to run a really good race.”

Former Tulloch Lodge mare Agarwood, $11 for the group 3 Nivison, is chasing a breakthrough victory after a solid but winless first campaign for the O’Shea-Charlton yard.

“She’s been running really well and she’s physically come on again, so we are really hopeful she might be able to make this grade this preparation,” Charlton said.

“It’s obviously a strong race on Saturday, but we’re trying to get her a breakthrough at stakes level and she’s been pretty close.”