Relief was Tom Charlton’s first emotion after King Pedro atoned for a series of luckless defeats with a dominant performance in the Stayers Cup at Rosehill.
Since winning at Gosford in November, the lightly raced gelding had finished runner-up in four of his subsequent five starts and Charlton admitted he was anxious to see the even-money favourite according to leading Aussie betting sites deliver on Saturday.
“I’m a bit nervous because I feel like the horse has been quite unfortunate for a lot of this preparation,” Charlton said.
“I’m relieved for the owners and staff and horse that he has managed to get the job done.
“He’s a really nice stayer. He will definitely make a better grade, and a good grade, in time. He is effective on all ground, effective at 2000 to 2400 (metres), and he could be effective over even further in time.”
King Pedro is by Eminent, a New Zealand-based son of Frankel who is little known in Australia.
The four-year-old was identified as a promising stayer by the stable after finishing sixth off a wide run in the 2025 New Zealand Derby (2400m), and Charlton hoped he could work his way back into better grade.
First stop is likely to be next month’s Grafton Cup (2350m) and beyond that, races like the The Metropolitan (2400m) will be entertained.
“Those are the sort of races, maybe a Sydney Cup some day,” Charlton said.
“Whether it comes too soon, but we do feel he could make it into a race like that.
“He is still quite an unfurnished horse so there is plenty more to come.
“We toyed with the idea of going to Caloundra (Cup) next weekend, but we thought the option of an easier race to try to win, and then potentially go to something nicer was probably more suitable.”
Ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, King Pedro ($2 favourite) ran out a comfortable three-length winner over Pinhole ($6), with outsider Masoun ($101) a short neck away third.
