Charles Road chasing higher honours
Charles Road will earn another knighthood if he can run up to expectations in Saturday’s Group 1 Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ellerslie.
Third in last year’s Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) under his Australian racing name of Sir Charles Road, the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained Myboycharlie five-year-old again has the Randwick $A2 million April 13 feature on his programme.
But first he needs to showcase his staying potency in an Ellerslie feature he could only finish fifth in last year.
“He’s entered for Sydney but he’s first got to show that he warrants going,” Scott said.
However, stable confidence is high that Charles Road will earn his trip, a flashing last-start fourth in the Listed Kaimai Stakes (2000m) at Matamata under 60.5kg convincing online bookmakers to install him a $3.30 favourite for Auckland Cup.
“It was a really pleasing performance,” Scott said.
“It indicated to us he’s coming up really well and racing in a manner that suggests he’s looking for the two miles. We were very pleased.
“His body weight indicates that he’s spot on, he’s hitting out freely in training and his fitness levels look to be very high. He’s going in a manner that suggests he’ll put in a really good performance.”
A winner of six of his 28 starts for owners Archer Equine Investments, Charles Road will attempt 3200m for the fourth time on Saturday, having most recently finished seventh in the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington last November after challenging for the lead with 400m to run.
“While he has’t won at the trip, his three runs have all been solid. You wouldn’t say he’s a proven two-miler but he’s a sound two-miler and everything says he won’t have any problem getting the trip on Saturday.”
Scott is full of respect for Charles Road’s opposition, having chased runner-up Five To Midnight in last year’s Auckland Cup and come up against Vengeur Masque, who placed in the Group 2 Sandown Cup (3200m) after his 15th in last year’s Melbourne Cup.
“Vengeur Masque is no mug. He’s an everyday Saturday horse in Australia and it takes a bit to win a Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G3, 2600m) in Melboourne. The off track was against him in the Melbourne Cup,” Scott said.
“Five To Midnight is in good form again and Glory Days is flying. It’s a strong Auckland Cup this year.”