Trainer Mick Kent has revealed Group One ambitions for debut Sandown winner Charlevoix.
The three-year-old has been a work in progress for Kent who says the colt has the makings of a promising stayer.
Ridden by Mark Zahra, Charlevoix ($6) came from back in the field to claim Wednesday’s Grand Hotel Frankston Plate (1400m) from Campanula ($4.20) by three-quarters of a length.
“He’s a big overgrown three-year-old that looks like he’ll stay and coming to the big open track was important for his first start,” Kent said.
“He’s just kept growing so we’ve taken our time with him.
“Now’s the right time for a three-year-old to step out and get out to a bit of a trip and hopefully he can train on.”
Kent said as the colt progressed through the early stages of his preparation towards his debut he had considered him an ideal type for the South Australian Derby at Morphettville in May.
“It’s a fair way away and we’ve got to get over some hurdles first but I think he’s a mile-and-a-quarter, mile-and-a-half horse and so we’ll see if he can get there,” he said.
Kent, who raced Charlevoix’s half-brother Iron Spider with some success, chased Charlevoix as a yearling but the colt was passed in for $55,000 at the Melbourne Premier sale in 2014.
Breeder Wayne Sullivan later contacted Kent and a syndicate was put together to race the three-year-old by New Approach out of Boracay.
“It’s been four-and-a-half years we’ve been waiting since the cover of New Approach,” Sullivan said.
“You have to be patient in this game.”
