Trish Dunell
Kiwi stayer Sir Charles Road spiked a temperature after finishing fourth in the Gr.3 MRC Foundation Cup (2000m) at Caulfield last month, but is back on track according to co-trainer Lance O’Sullivan.
The David Archer-owned five-year-old was only an outside chance of making the field for the Gr.1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) for which he is 36thin order of entry, and will now contest the Gr.3 Coongy Cup (2000m) on the undercard.
“His temperature has been fine for ten days,” O’Sullivan said.
“We are looking to run him in the Coongy and depending on how he runs in that we will make a decision from there.”
O’Sullivan, who trains in partnership with Andrew Scott, was delighted with the gelding’s performance last start.
“It was his first run over ground and his first run for three weeks, so we knew there was a lot of natural improvement in the horse.
“That is what we were excited about as much anything was the improvement to come.
“We couldn’t have been happier. I thought it was a great run.
“It was really good feedback from Dwayne Dunn and he gave the horse a good ride from the gate. He said he probably just peaked on his run, which is understandable.”
O’Sullivan said he was hopeful Dunn would stick with the reigning New Zealand Stayer of the Year.