Racing: Charles on road to riches

Charles Road has been installed a $3.30 favourite for Auckland Cup today. Photo / Trish Dunell

Charles Road will earn another knighthood if he can run up to expectations in today's Gr.1 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ellerslie.

Third in last year's Gr.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 A$2 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 TAB 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 today, 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.

Five To Midnight is in good form again and Glory Days is flying. It's a strong Auckland Cup this year.

Andrew Scott

"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 Gr.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 (Gr.3, 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."

● The Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained Rondinella is taking a solid formline into today's Gr.1 Bonecrusher NZ Stakes at Ellerslie, but her connections believe she will have her work cut out for her in the star-studded field.

The Ocean Park four-year-old has won three of her six starts this season, placing in a further two, including a last-start runner-up performance in the Listed Kaimai Stakes (2000m) at Matamata last month.

There are a number of horses the Cambridge trainers didn't foresee competing in today's contest, but they remain excited to have her competing in her first Group One assignment in any case.

"The race has come up very strong," Wellwood said. "I think there are eight Group One winners and a further two Group One placegetters.

Rondinella has drawn gate three and Wellwood said jockey Vinnie Colgan will likely settle her midfield from that barrier.

- NZ Racing Desk