Queensland Derby victor Maison Louis notched his finest spring result at his second race back from rest, as trainer Tom Charlton anticipates a matching display from the four-year-old venturing to Gosford.
The gelding lines up in Saturday’s Listed Gosford Gold Cup (2100m) coming off a notable reappearance, where he surged late for sixth place to Hellsing over the non-preferred 1500m at Randwick.
Charlton viewed this as the ideal first-up effort from the gelding, especially after a variable spring season.
“He couldn’t have done any more. He looks to have come back well,” Charlton said of the first-up run.
“He ran third in the Hill Stakes second-up last prep, which is a strong weight-for-age race, so if he can replicate that he will run well.
“He let himself down a bit pre-race last preparation, so we’re just trying to build a bit of confidence for him and get him back in his groove.”
With five scratches at the start, Maison Louis landed in stall 11, and though Charlton isn’t fully sold on the compact Gosford track, he doesn’t anticipate problems.
“He is short-coupled and hasn’t got a great, big action,” he said.
“He’s got a turn of foot for a horse over that trip, so I think he will be fine.”
Without a set itinerary for Maison Louis, Charlton indicates the outcome at Gosford will guide decisions, eyeing races in Sydney or Brisbane such as The Q22 (2200m) on June 13 at Eagle Farm.
Maison Louis was at $8 for Friday’s Gosford Cup betting, behind Matt Smith-trained favourite Portland at $5.50.
Check the racing betting markets available for the Gosford Gold Cup.