Trainer Roger Charlton is hoping to take his staying star Withhold back over to Australia later in the year for another crack at the elusive Group One Melbourne Cup.
Two years ago he entered the Northumberland Plate and Cesarewitch winner for the black type event down under but plans for the race had to take a backward step as the gelding broke a blood vessel in the Geelong Cup prior to the feature Melbourne event.
Last year Charlton made his plans clear with the seven year old to stay in Britain and focus on the marathon contests and it paid dividends landing Newbury’s Marsh Cup to his handicap haul as well as a Listed race at Newmarket.
👏🏻 Far too good!
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 26, 2019
Withhold is a class apart from his rivals for Jason Watson and Roger Charlton in the Listed Jockey Club Rose Bowl Stakes @NewmarketRace pic.twitter.com/ynXpWABU7j
After his smart performances he is now right on track to head to Australia in November for a crack at the Group One that has seen British Raiders perform well over the last few years.
(Credit At The Races) Charlton said: “Withhold is set to have a Group-race campaign but his handicap days may not be completely over as the Melbourne Cup is very much in our minds.
“Tony Bloom, his owner, spends quite a lot of time in Australia and I’m sure he’d still like to have a crack at the race.
“Last time we had to draw stumps after he bled, but this year he’d be guaranteed to get in off his higher rating so wouldn’t necessarily need a prep run over there.”