King Pedro aiming for a change of fortune in Stayer's Cup
While Tom Charlton has a Group 1 contender slated for the main event at Rosehill this Saturday, a stablemate competing in a supporting race might be the stable's most significant staying prospect.
King Pedro is scheduled to race over 2400 metres for the first time this campaign in the $160,000 Stayer's Cup. The New Zealand-bred son of Eminent has experienced a lack of favourable results in his three outings this season, including a narrow second over 2000m at Rosehill on June 13, and Charlton is hopeful for a kinder outcome.
"He probably hasn't had a lot of luck for his past four runs, to be fair," Charlton remarked. "You could make a case that he's been unlucky in all of them, but he's building into the preparation very well."
King Pedro secured second place at Gosford over 2100m two starts prior, being narrowly defeated by Monopolistic after making an early move. This followed a seventh-place finish on debut over 1600m at Randwick on Anzac Day, where he encountered traffic issues in the straight but was only beaten by a length.
The Stayer's Cup will represent King Pedro's first attempt at 2400m since another close second in benchmark 78 grade at Randwick on December 20.
King Pedro's recent string of poor luck has resulted in just two wins from 14 starts and a rating of 77, explaining his light impost of 54.5kg on Saturday. Charlton suggested that a strong showing this weekend could lead to an opportunity in Stakes company.
"We toyed with going to the Caloundra Cup (next week), but if he was to run well in the Stayer's Cup he could go to the Grafton Cup two-and-a-half weeks later," Charlton explained. "He's clearly got a good future, probably at a grade better than this, and he should stay well."
Maison Louis, last year's Queensland Derby winner, will also race at Rosehill. He is looking to improve after a disappointing run in the Listed Winter Cup (2400m) and will contest the $200,000 Listed McKell Cup over 2000m. "His runs prior to last weekend have all been with plenty of merit, just with barriers draws and things not working out, so I would be confident he can run well at Listed grade."
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