KEY POINTS:
Nigel McGrath says his stunning comeback season is just the start.
The Canterbury trainer has staged a remarkable recovery from the most traumatic time of his life, his disqualification from training two years ago for his involvement in racing's Blue Magic doping controversy.
At the time his career
looked to be in tatters but a reduced sentence and client loyalty have seen McGrath quickly re-establish himself as one of the most talented young trainers in the country.
Much of that has been on the back of top 4-year-old pacers Classic Line and Marvin Royce, but last night King Charlie gave him his biggest win since his return to training in the $75,000 Northern Trotting Derby.
The 3-year-old led virtually throughout to hold out trailer Holiday Lover and Earl Of Mot in an all-Canterbury trifecta.
The group one win was reward for the confidence McGrath and his owners put in King Charlie when they trialled him earlier this season, outlaying a six-figure sum for the son of Monarchy.
Since then King Charlie has been besieged by problems which have hindered him from showing his best and even now he is still running on raw talent.
"He can keep getting better," said McGrath.
"He is still suffering from tying-up problems and he could be a really good horse."
While he is thrilled with the support he has had on his return to training, McGrath says next season he is aiming for an even higher level.
"Next season can be a lot bigger for us because we have a lot of young stock to come through.
"But I have to be happy to have horses like him and the two top 4-year-olds I have."
* New Zealand's smallest stable is set to make a splash on harness racing's biggest day.
Cambridge trainer Dave Kaa has only one horse in work but the way Bachelorette is racing she could well be one of the darlings of the Harness Jewels meeting at Ashburton on June 2.
The 4-year-old won her third race on end at Alexandra Park last night, crushing her opponents with her now customary relentless racing style.
That continued her magical season in which she has matured from a speedy filly last season to the highest stake-earning mare of her age in the country at the moment.
That saw her accorded the honour of wearing the Harness Jewels yellow leader's racing silks last night, which was a buzz in itself for Kaa.
"That is a thrill, to have ahorse good enough to win thosecolours," said Kaa.
"But her whole season has been geared toward the Harness Jewels so it is getting pretty exciting."
Bachelorette was already the favourite for her division of the Jewels before last night's win and Kaa says the big Ashburton track and mile racing will suit her perfectly.
"She will head to Christchurch this week, race at Addington the week after and then we are hopefully going for Ashburton."
The Harness Jewels is harness racing's huge new series, with nine races for two, three and four-year-old pacers and trotters to be held on the same day. The pacers will be split into different sexes and race for $200,000 while the trotters have one race per age group for $100,000.