Sir Charles Road has stamped himself as a live chance for next weekend’s Sydney Cup by winning this afternoon’s Group 2 Chairman’s Quality (2600m) at Royal Randwick.
The Kiwi raider attracted plenty of interest in betting in the hours leading up to jump and did his chances of justifying the trend no harm when he found an ideal position in transit on the rails, a little better that mid-field.
Settling into a good rhythm and experiencing a carefree run in transit, jockey Blake Shinn began to work the horse forward as the field approached the final turn and was offered a clear racing line at the bottom of the straight.
Immediately responding when asked for an extra effort, Sir Charles Road stormed to the front of the pack and locked in a fierce sprint battle with in-form stayer Ventura Storm, but eventually got the better of the Victorian and claimed the Group 2 prize by a head.
Sir Charles Road has been a strong and consistent performer in his native New Zealand this year; winning the Group 3 Auckland Cup (2400m) and finishing fourth in the Nathan’s Memorial Handicap (2400m) before placing a credible sixth in the Group 1 Auckland Cup (3200m) on March 10th.
The son of Myboycharlie was a $61 shot in early Sydney Cup betting prior to this afternoon’s win, but he has since firmed into a $10 quote.
Ventura Storm savaged the line with topweight this afternoon and looks like a horse that will appreciate the two miles next weekend.
The Zoffany gelding failed to fire in his two starts leading into the Chairman’s Handicap, but did run a strong third behind Harlem and Gailo Chop in the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) second-up.
Peribsen ran on well to finish third, while Ormito worked home from the tail of the field to run fourth.