Just Charlie goes back-to-back in Metropolitan Trophy

Just Charlie continued the theme of the day at Riccarton on Saturday when the Wanganui visitor claimed his second successive Listed Nautical Boat Insurance Metropolitan Trophy (2590m).

The Kevin Myers-trained gelding won last year’s edition under expat Kiwi hoop Logan Bates, and he looked the winner a long way out when defending his crown this year under Lilly Sutherland.

The seven-year-old son of Zed was taken straight to the front by Sutherland and dictated terms throughout, eventually running out a comfortable 1-1/4 length victor over Lombardi, with a further 1-1/2 lengths back to Court Of Appeal in third.

“He is a cool horse, he is a big pet,” stable representative Luke Myers said. “He has been placed well and his run up at Auckland (when runner-up in the Staphanos Classic, 2100m) had a lot of merit, I thought he was a little bit underdone, and he really kicked hard there.

“I thought it was a superb ride (by Sutherland), it was pretty much a carbon copy of last year with Logan Bates. She slowed them down around the corner and when Star Ballot came around, she quickened him up and he had a nice rhythm all the way through. He got his breathing right and he skipped clear on the corner.”

Myers was also full of praise for Sutherland, and he was rapt to see her rewarded for her hard work.

“She is extremely underrated,” he said. “She always rides well and she is determined. She wants to get the best for the owners and the horse.”

Just Charlie continued a rewarding day at Riccarton for both Myers and Sutherland, with the pair combining earlier in the day to win the One Good Horse At Avonhead Tavern Premier (2000m) with Valley King, while Sutherland was also victorious aboard the Andrew Carston-trained Giggly Gal to open the meeting in the Road Metals Premier (1600m).

Just Charlie is set to back up in next Saturday’s Gr.3 Martin Collins New Zealand Cup (3200m), and his connections are hopeful he can improve on last year’s 10^th placing.