Trish Dunell Photography
Loftier goals await one of last season’s better three-year-olds following a return to form at Pukekohe.
Charles Road bounced back to his best with a comprehensive defeat of a competitive Rating 85 line-up over 1600m on Wednesday to confirm plans to a future return to black type racing.
“It’s really encouraging going into the summer months and some of the better mile races,” said Andrew Scott, who trains the gelding with Lance O’Sullivan.
“Lance picked out this race some time ago and it’s good for the horse’s confidence, hopefully onwards and upwards now.”
Charles Road won the Gr.3 Manawatu Classic (2000m) last term off the back of a solid run for sixth in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m).
However, he failed to come up in the spring which Scott attributed to the weather and Charles Road’s age.
“There were wet tracks and it’s not easy at that stage against the older horses,” he said.