Trainer Lloyd Kennewell is already looking towards bigger autumn targets after Loud Charlie scored a breakthrough win at Sandown.
The lightly raced gelding was having just his second career start when he claimed the Thoroughbred Club Of Australia Plate (1300m) on Wednesday.
With the Melbourne Autumn Carnival looming, Kennewell believes there is plenty more to come.
“I’m still not sure if he’s the full version of himself yet,” Kennewell said.
“Does he get to an Australian Guineas, I don’t know, but the CS Hayes Stakes (at Flemington on February 14) is potentially next, but I want to make sure he pulls up good first and then work out where we go with him, but he’s pretty promising.”
Ridden by Jamie Mott, Loud Charlie ($3.50) won by a length from Saludar, with favourite The Benchmark third.
The gelding had finished third on debut behind Asakura at Terang in early January.
“I was trying to work out how he got beaten at Terang and then on Monday we saw the formlin e come through with Mitch Freedman’s horse (Asakura) winning easily and it looks a promising horse,” Kennewell said.
Kennewell explained Loud Charlie had been a work in progress, particularly on wet tracks.
“He struggled going through the gears,” Kennewell said.
“He would gallop really well on the training tracks, but in his jump-outs he was letting me down and also on wet tracks.”
A firmer surface this preparation revealed his true ability.
“I think a mile in time, but I don’t know how much further,” Kennewell said.