Trained by Gerald Ryan, Hinchinbrook gave the highly fancied Beneteau a rude awakening when he won the 2010 Skyline Stakes in the quickest 1200m the Randwick track has seen by a two-year-old.

Hinchinbrook ($5) beat home six quality rivals including the Gai Waterhouse-trained Brightexpectations ($12) a short head back in second and roughie Pressday ($31) a further length back in third.

The victory has seen Hinchinbrook shorten to $12 with IASbet for the illustrious Golden Slipper on April 3, equal with last-start Silver Slipper Stakes winner Chance Bye.

John O’Shea’s brilliant filly Solar Charged, winner of the Kindergarten Stakes on March 6, is the current favourite for the world’s richest two-year-olds race at $4.20.

With top Sydney hoop Hugh Bowman aboard, Hinchinbrook found space on the straight in the Skyline Stakes, accelerating through his rivals to score in a blistering 1:08.8. He became the first juvenile to run under 69 seconds in the 1200m course at Randwick.

The Paul Messara-trained Beneteau went onto the field as the clear favourite at $1.50 but failed to find the form that saw him win the Blue Diamond Prelude back on February 6. The Redoute’s Choice colt found himself caught out four wide and finished well back in sixth.

Beneteau’s odds for the Golden Slipper have now drifted to $13.

The winning Fastnet Rock colt has now scored in both of his career starts earning $135, 000 in prizemoney, with Ryan eyeing off the Group 2 Todman Slipper Trial (1200m) this Saturday at Rosehill as a final preparatory run for Hinchinbrook before he tackles the Golden Slipper.

The scheduled highlight at the meeting on Saturday was the $350, 000 Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) where a gallant Shoot Out claimed victory.

Another highlight of the day was De Lightning Ridge’s record breaking win in the $150, 000 Group 2 Challenge Stakes (1000m).

2010 Skyline Stakes Results:

Seven impressive two-year-old colts and geldings are lining up in the 2010 Skyline Stakes, but the hot pre-race favourite is Paul Messara’s brilliant youngster Beneteau currently at $1.65 with IASbet.

The Redoute’s Choice colt has had a dazzling career over his three race starts, winning on debut over 1000m at Randwick on Australia Day, then blitzing his rivals in the Blue Diamond Prelude before running an unlucky third to Star Witness in the Blue Diamond Stakes last start.

On Saturday Beneteau will start on the far outside barrier seven and will have expert jockey Damien Oliver aboard. A win in the Skyline Stakes will see Beneteau reclaim favouritism for the illustrious Golden Slipper Stakes on April 3. He was sitting at the top in the betting markets for the world’s richest race for two-year-olds until two weeks ago when Chance Bye and Solar Charged staked their claims through sensational wins.

Chance Bye stormed to victory in the Silver Slipper Stakes on February 27 while Solar Charged took out the Kindergarten Stakes in impressive style last Saturday.

Sharing second favouritism at $6.50 for the 2010 Skyline Stakes are Hinchinbrook and Ilovethiscity.

The Gerald Ryan-trained Hincinbrook has had just one career start when he won on debut in the Listed Canonbury Stakes (1100m) on February 13. The Fastnet Rock colt has since then ran well in a barrier trial and will jump from barrier three on Saturday.

Ilovethiscity looks well poised to claim his maiden victory, the Grahame Begg-trained colt coming off two close second placings and is due to be ridden by Blake Shinn from barrier two.

The Gai Waterhouse-trained Brightexpectations might just cause an upset if they make the most of the inside running from barrier one. The More Than Ready colt who took out the Magic Millions 2YO Slipper back in December will be ridden by Brad Rawiller.

The scheduled highlight of the meeting is the $350, 000 Group 1 Randwick Guineas, and other excellent races set to take place including the $150, 000 Group 2 Challenge Stakes and the $125, 000 Group 3 Sweet Embrace Stakes.

The 2010 Skyline Stakes will run as race two at Randwick on Saturday and is due to jump at 1:30pm (NSW time).

2010 Skyline Stakes Final Field & Barrier Draw:

A range of the country’s best two-year-old colts and geldings will line up in the 2010 Skyline Stakes, many on their way to the to the premier two-year-olds’ race in Australia, the $3.5million Group 1 Golden Slipper on April 3.

Punters keen to get in on the exciting Skyline Stakes’ betting markets should keep a close eye on earlier Sydney Autumn Carnival events for two-year-old runners including the Group 2 Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m) on February 27.

The Silver Slipper Stakes is one of the traditional lead-up races to the Skyline Stakes that Golden Slipper campaigners will contest.

The 2010 Skyline Stakes is sure to be a hotly contested affair as the winner is exempt from ballot for the Golden Slipper

One youngster on this trail is the Gerald Ryan-trained Hinchinbrook.

The Fastnet Rock colt impressed when he won on debut in the Canonbury Stakes on February 13, and will have his next start in the Skyline Stakes before heading towards the Golden Slipper.

The 2010 Skyline Stakes is sure to be a hotly contested affair as the winner is exempt from ballot for the Golden Slipper.