Trainer eyeing Group target for 'smart' juvenile after stunning 80-1 debut success

Jim Boyle could next test his promising juvenile Into The Sky in Group 2 company following the colt's 80-1 debut success at Newbury last week.

The son of Starman made all to score by seven and a half lengths at the Berkshire track, beating a Godolphin-owned favourite in Leone Alato and Law Court for Al Shaqab.

Boyle has had 16 two-year-old winners on turf since 2003 and Into The Sky was his first juvenile to score at the first time of asking. 

“I’d be lying if I said I was expecting a two-year-old of mine to go blitz a Newbury maiden," said Boyle. "We were hopeful he'd put up a good performance because he was showing us he was smart. Visually it was very good, but the sectionals and times have backed that up.

“We were hopeful he'd put up a good performance because he was showing us he was smart"Credit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

"We only have five two-year-olds and he is clearly the best of them. We’ve been having to work him with older horses as we didn’t have another two-year-old who could go with him. We didn’t have a yardstick to give us a thorough gauge of just how good he was for his age group."

A return to Newbury for the £125,000 Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes on September 20 could now be a possible next target for Into The Sky, who would need to be supplemented. 

“We’re seriously considering the Mill Reef, which will be a big step up in class, but I think the performance warranted it," said Boyle. "I wouldn’t generally have two-year-olds running in Groups on their second start so it will be very exciting.”

Many Men: "We’re thoroughly enjoying the ride we are having with him"Credit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Into The Sky’s stablemate Many Men is among the early entries for next month's Cesarewitch, but is unlikely to run at Newmarket. 

The three-year-old was denied a fourth success of the season when beaten a nose by Tarriance in the Melrose Stakes at York's Ebor meeting last month.

“It was painful," added Boyle. "It was a scenario where he was in front everywhere but the line and he was on the line with the wrong stride pattern, with his head up. That's the difference between winning the Melrose or finishing second. At the time we were gutted, but we were delighted with the run. He's a proper horse.

“He put in one slightly below-par performance all season, but apart from that he’s run blinders every time. He’s a smashing horse with a lovely character and we’re thoroughly enjoying the ride we are having with him. 

"We made a speculative entry for the Cesarewitch, but that is particularly hard for three-year-olds. I suspect we’ll go for a 1m6f Listed race in early October as our preferred target.”

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