Luke Nolen has landed his first city win since returning from a lengthy injury absence, guiding promising staying colt Charlevoix to a convincing victory in the Listed Galilee Series Final at Sandown.
Charlevoix
Nolen spent seven months out of race riding due to a back injury before making his return at the Lightning Stakes meeting on February 20.
While he had ridden five winners at the provincials this week, Nolen said it was good to get his first city win since his return.
“It’s been frustrating,” Nolen said.
“I’ve been riding well but things have all got to click.”
Nolen is also entering a new phase of his career having been stable rider for Peter Moody where they enjoyed so much success, most notably with unbeaten champion mare Black Caviar.
Moody recently closed his stable as he started a six-month suspension.
The Mick Kent-trained Charlevoix drifted from $2 to start $3 in Saturday’s 2400m Listed race for three-year-olds but showed he was a colt with staying promise as he swept past his rivals to defeat second favourite Cool Chap ($3.10) by 2-1/4 lengths.
Meru ($41) was another 1-3/4 lengths away third.
Charlevoix, a son of New Approach, won at Sandown on debut in February before hitting the line strongly for sixth and fourth respectively in the Group Two Autumn Classic and Alister Clark Stakes.
Nolen said he was able to track Cool Chap from the 1000m before making his winning run.
“It’s my first ride on him but I’m very impressed with what I’ve seen,” Nolen said.
“Mick has always thrown me a bone the last five or six years. So as long as I keep winning on them, he’ll probably keep throwing me a bone.”
The Group One South Australian Derby is an option for Charlevoix.
