Sir Charles Road (inside) winning last year's Gr.2 Chairman's Quality (2600m).Photo / Darryl Sherer
The Lance O'Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained Sir Charles Road will be looking to continue his love affair with Sydney today when he lines up in the Gr.1 A$2 million Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick.
The Matamata galloper has a great association with Randwick, having won the Gr.2 Chairman's Quality (2600m) there last year before running third in the Sydney Cup behind Who Shot Thebarman.
The five-year-old gelding returned this year to finish fourth behind Gallic Chieftain in the Chairman's Quality and his connections are happy with him heading into today's two-mile (3200m) feature.
"It was a pretty good effort (in the Chairman's Quality)," O'Sullivan said. "He ran well and kept finding the line well, we were very pleased with him.
"He hasn't missed an oat since. The horse looks really well, he's bright, happy and is pretty well within himself. He certainly looks good ahead of Saturday."
While pleased with his charge heading into the race, O'Sullivan believes Sir Charles Road will have to be at his best to repeat last year's result after drawing barrier 20.
"He will need a lot of luck from there but it's just the way it is. He's fit and very healthy and he's a happy horse," O'Sullivan said. "I think the field is stronger this year, but he's going to beat more home than beat him home."
Sir Charles Road has been marked as a $21 chance in the two-mile feature by TAB bookmakers, while they have fellow Kiwi-trained horses Glory Days, Rondinella and Zacada set at $18, $17 and $91 respectively.
Meanwhile, Wexford Stables will be in search of more black-type on home soil for Group Three-winning mare Spring Heat when she competes in the Listed NZB Finance Sprint (1200m) at Hastings today.
The Hermitage Thoroughbreds-owned daughter of More Than Ready finished midfield last start in the Gr.3 Waikato Stud Plate (1200m) and her connections are hoping for an improved performance from their mare.
"She's had a little bit of a let-up after her last run and there is no doubt that she wants a bit of give in the ground," O'Sullivan said. "We'll let her go and see what happens."
●The White Robe Lodge crew will be cheering on their home-bred horses in feature races on both sides of the Tasman today.
On the home front, the Wingatui stable of Brian Anderton (the White Robe Lodge founder and principal) and son Shane will be represented by Tommy Tucker and Gallant Boy in the Gr.3 Coca-Cola Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m) at Riccarton.
Then just under a couple of hours later, the Andertons' attention will switch to Randwick where Gallant Boy's year younger brother Patrick Erin (a former stablemate) and Yogi will clash in the Sydney Cup, attempting to give White Robe Lodge back-to-back victories in the staying feature.
Twelve months ago there was much jubilation at White Robe Lodge when the Chris Waller-trained Who Shot Thebarman, bred by Brian Anderton and his wife, Lorraine, prevailed in the Sydney Cup, adding another milestone to the record of his deceased sire Yamanin Vital, who stood at the stud. Now there is an opportunity in the Sydney Cup to boost the profiles of White Robe Lodge's resident sires Gallant Guru (Patrick Erin) and Raise The Flag (Yogi).
Patrick Erin won 10 races from the Anderton stable before being transferred to Waller and from the champion trainer's Sydney stable he won the Gr.1 Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick last September.
He surprised everyone fresh-up when fourth in the Gr.2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Randwick behind stablemate and champion Winx and he goes into the Sydney Cup with a last-start ninth behind Avilius in the Gr.1 Tancred Stakes (2400m) at Rosehill.
"We know he's up to it," Brian Anderton said. "He's been getting back and I'd just like to see him a bit closer in the running."
Yogi, a $1000 bargain buy at the 2014 South Island Sale, has won eight of his 31 starts and is already proven at the supreme staying test, having won the Listed Sandown Cup (3200m) last November. He also won fresh-up this campaign over 1800m at Caulfield and did better than Patrick Erin last start in the Tancred Stakes (2400m) when fifth.
Back on the local scene, Anderton isn't prepared to split Tommy Tucker (whom he part-owns and co-bred) and Gallant Boy in the Canterbury Gold Cup.
"Authentic Paddy is a good pacemaker to have in the field and is a good horse. He'll be hard to beat, but our two are both good shows," he said.
Tommy Tucker, another of the Gallant Guru stock, won the same race two years ago and showed he was back on the right track when second to the ill-fated Boots 'N' All in the Hororata Gold Cup (1800m) at Riccarton last start.
- NZ Racing Desk