Charles Road Overpowers Rivals in City of Auckland Cup

Talented four-year-old Charles Road (Myboycharlie) picked up the second Group 3 win of his career with a determined display in Saturday’s $200,000 Group 3 Windsor Park Stud City of Auckland Cup (2400m) at Ellerslie.

The $90,000 Premier Sale purchase had won last season’s Group 3 Manawatu Classic (2000m) alongside placings in the Group 2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) and Championship Stakes (2100m).

From the bottom of the weights in Saturday’s staying showpiece, Charles Road sat in second place for rider Jake Bayliss before taking the lead at the top of the straight.

He was strongly tested in the last 200 metres by fellow Karaka graduates Five To Midnight (NZ) (Domesday) and Comin’through (NZ) (Bullbars), but Charles Road was up to the challenge and held them out by two necks.

“He’s a horse with a lot of ability,” said Lance O’Sullivan, who trains in partnership with Andrew Scott. “When he puts everything together, he really puts it together.”

Raced by Archer Equine Investments Ltd, Charles Road has had 15 starts for four wins, seven placings and $246,675 in prizemoney.