Charles Road
Trish Dunell
Lance O'Sullivan and Andrew Scott can strengthen their Gr.1 New Zealand Derby hand on Saturday if Charles Road lifts to another level.
The Matamata trainers have no doubt about the well-related gelding's talent, but his lack of experience is a concern and his immediate future will be determined by his performance in the Gr.2 Retina Specialists Avondale Guineas.
Charles Road has a win and three placings from his four appearances and last time out he finished strongly for second behind Camino Rocoso.
"Craig Williams got off him and said he was still very raw, but he believed he had more than his share of ability," Scott said.
"He's coming to hand well now and holding his condition, which is important at this time of the year. He's still improving and he'll be going around two corners for the first time, but he's making good progress.
"If he runs really well again then we would have to give him his chance in the Derby."
Out of a half-sister to the Singapore Horse of the Year War Affair, Charles Road is currently at $18 in the Vodafone-sponsored Derby market while stablemate and race rival Cha Siu Bao is at $12.
"Every race Cha Siu Bao has had he's been hitting the line and his performance the other day was solid and there's no reason why he wouldn't put in a similar run on Saturday," Scott said.
The colt got home strongly last time out for fourth in the Gr.2 Waikato Guineas, a position he also filled in the Gr.2 Great Northern Guineas and in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas.
"Both our runners will be each way chances and we don't lean toward one more than the other - the question mark could be the track, if the rain does come, as neither of our horses have run on bad ground." – NZ Racing Desk.
The Matamata trainers have no doubt about the well-related gelding's talent, but his lack of experience is a concern and his immediate future will be determined by his performance in the Gr.2 Retina Specialists Avondale Guineas.
Charles Road has a win and three placings from his four appearances and last time out he finished strongly for second behind Camino Rocoso.
"Craig Williams got off him and said he was still very raw, but he believed he had more than his share of ability," Scott said.
"He's coming to hand well now and holding his condition, which is important at this time of the year. He's still improving and he'll be going around two corners for the first time, but he's making good progress.
"If he runs really well again then we would have to give him his chance in the Derby."
Out of a half-sister to the Singapore Horse of the Year War Affair, Charles Road is currently at $18 in the Vodafone-sponsored Derby market while stablemate and race rival Cha Siu Bao is at $12.
"Every race Cha Siu Bao has had he's been hitting the line and his performance the other day was solid and there's no reason why he wouldn't put in a similar run on Saturday," Scott said.
The colt got home strongly last time out for fourth in the Gr.2 Waikato Guineas, a position he also filled in the Gr.2 Great Northern Guineas and in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas.
"Both our runners will be each way chances and we don't lean toward one more than the other - the question mark could be the track, if the rain does come, as neither of our horses have run on bad ground." – NZ Racing Desk.
