Theresa Bateup has high hopes for the in-form River Charge who will make his first foray into Saturday city company at Randwick.
River Charge is among fourteen entries for the $125,000 Benchmark (72) event over 1600m on Saturday.
Bateup has the consistent galloper racing in great form this campaign and following successive wins, the Kembla trainer said it was time to see how the son of Charge Forward measures up in town.
River Charge returned to the winner’s circle at Goulburn on December 18 before stamping his class with a big weight over 1600m at the Sapphire Coast on December 27.
“He’s going super and he deserves his chance stepping up in grade now,” Bateup said.
“He’s still got a bit to learn, he floats a bit, but the way he put them away last start with the big impost was very convincing.”
Bateup suggested the four-year-old, who also ran third to Foxborough in the Wagga Guineas last autumn, had come on well since his recent brace of country wins.
Foxborough is also among the nominations for Saturday’s race.
“He’s on an upward spiral and continuing to improve,” she said.
Bateup has secured the services of Rachel King for Saturday’s assignment as regular rider, Jessica Taylor, will be riding at Kembla Grange.
“Rachel’s a great rider and we’ve had success with her before.” Bateup said.
The Randwick track is expected to race in the heavy range but River Charge has never missed a cheque from six previous runs on wet tracks and it’s of little concern to Bateup.
Bateup who has been a licenced trainer at Kembla Grange for eighteen years, also enjoyed recent success with Monegal at the Kembla Grange stand-alone meeting.
The stable’s star mare was a luckless fifth behind Threeood in the Gosford Belle Of The Turf last week and Bateup said she was looking for a race in town next week.
