Progressive stayer King Pedro (NZ) (Eminent) contests Thursday’s Listed A$200,000 Grafton Cup (2350m) for trainer Tom Charlton, who believes the New Zealand-bred four-year-old can now elevate to a new level after getting the monkey off his back with a last-start victory in the Stayers Cup (2400m) at Rosehill.

The son of Eminent was plagued by bad luck and traffic trouble on his way to finishing seventh over 1600m at Randwick on April 25, second over 2100m at Gosford on May 9 and a desperately unlucky second by a nose in a 2000m race at Rosehill on June 17.

“He's had an excellent campaign,” Charlton said. “He was a bit unfortunate in a couple of his runs prior to the Stayers Cup, but he got the job done in impressive style last time.

“He is versatile in terms of trip.

“He might stay further than a mile and a half, which is excellent, but I think the Grafton Cup will be a good trip for him.”

“There's a chance of a bit of rain on Thursday, which I don't think would harm him. He's got that sort of lightly raced progressive profile, which should see him fit in well.”

Kerrin McEvoy is booked to ride the former Kiwi stayer, who has been installed a $2 favourite for Thursday’s feature.

Beyond the Grafton assignment, Charlton believes the gelding can bounce into black-type staying assignments through spring.

“I think there's no reason why we can't think about those types of races,” he said.

“I definitely think he's going to be a horse that is effective in stakes races over these trips going forward.”

Originally named Don Pedro, the King Pedro began his career in the Opaki stable of Peter Jeffcoat, who bought him for just $3,900 on Gavelhouse.com in October of 2022.

From six starts for Jeffcoat, King Pedro recorded a win, two seconds, a third and a fourth.

In his final New Zealand start before being sold to syndicators OTI Racing, King Pedro finished sixth behind Willydoit (NZ) (Tarzino) last year’s Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m).

With three wins and seven placings from 15 career starts, King Pedro will be looking to build on his A$255,159 in prizemoney to date. - NZ Racing Desk

Stablemates in good touch for Taranaki return

Peter Lock’s trio of weekend representatives will be back in familiar territory at New Plymouth where they have all performed well on previous visits.

The Te Aroha trainer will have Pick Of The Litter (NZ) (Vadamos), Jungle Love (NZ) (Ace High) and No More Pennies (NZ) (Proisir) in action on Saturday with all three in good form ahead of their respective engagements.

Lock will also be double handed at the Awapuni meeting on Friday with Vittorio Veneto (Redwood) and Shez Shamus (NZ) (Shez Shamus) strong chances on the synthetic track.

Pick Of The Litter will drop back in trip for the Sinclair Electrical & Refrigeration (1800m) following a middle-distance victory on her home track two runs back and a solid last-start fourth at Waverley.

A previous course and distance runner-up on the Taranaki circuit, the Vadamos mare has posted all four of her career victories on rain-affected ground.

“I have been tossing up whether to run her in the Taumarunui Cup, but I was worried she might not get in that so we’ve paid up for Saturday and her work on Tuesday morning was probably her best for months,” Lock said.

“Masa Hashizume is coming down to ride her, he thinks a bit of the mare and she is very genuine and going extra well.”

Taranaki Building Ltd (1400m) contender Jungle Love is a two-time winner at New Plymouth and due another major reward following consecutive runner-up finishes at Otaki, Matamata and most recently at Waverley.

The well-related four-year-old is expected to benefit with the application of side winkers.

“Chris (Dell) got off her the other day and said halfway down the straight he hadn’t gone for her when she cruised up to the other horse, but wouldn’t go past it,” Lock said.

“She’s still a work in progress and I think she’ll be a very good mare in time, she’s bred to be good but her brain’s not up with her physique at this stage.”

Jungle Love is by Ace High out of the multiple-winning Zabeel mare Lovelight, a daughter of Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) winner Jungle Rocket.

“She’s bred to stay, but we’ve kept her to a mile at the moment because I don’t think she’s quite strong or robust enough to tackle 2200m just yet,” Lock said.

“I couldn’t be happier with her, and she really deserves to get another one.”

No More Pennies, who has twice placed at New Plymouth, was a dominant last-start winner at Waverley and has trained on well ahead of the Seaton Park MAAT (1800m).

“The race on Saturday looks a good one for him, it’s a nice step up in distance,” Lock said.

Meanwhile, all-weather specialist Vittorio Veneto will chase two wins on the bounce at Awapuni when he runs in Friday’s Pryda Synthetic Final Qualifier (1400m).

“He loves the synthetic and hopefully he can win and qualify for that final at the end of the season,” Lock said.

Shez Shamus drew attention to her prospects in the Tomo’s Aluminium Services & Peter Baker Glass 2026 (1700m) with a game effort for third on the course earlier this month.

“She drew the outside and had to go hard to get across so it was a gutsy effort, she’s drawn three this time and should be competitive,” Lock said. - Paul Vettise