David Archer is no stranger to top level success and he could be in line for a return to the glory days with his latest black type winner.
He races the promising Charles Road, who downed his age group opposition in the Gr.3 Higgins Concrete Manawatu Classic at Awapuni on Saturday.
Archer, who celebrated no fewer than 10 Group One wins with his two-time New Zealand Horse of the Year Mufhasa, was on course to cheer his son of Myboycharlie to victory.
"He's a really nice horse and I'm quite relieved to see him do that," he said.
"He's been up since July and he's only a three-year-old and he's going to come to the end of it at some stage so it was a very gutsy win."
Charles Road is trained by Lance O'Sullivan and Andrew Scott, who were both in Sydney, and he was ridden by Craig Grylls.
The Matamata-based jockey was happy to sit toward the back of the field with the gelding before they moved ominously into contention across the top.
Charles Road lengthened stride impressively in the closing 300 metres to win for the second time in his seven start career. He also finished runner-up in the Gr.2 Avondale Guineas before running sixth in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby.
Fourth in the Ellerslie classic was Beaumarchais and he chased Charles Road home on Saturday with Leading Role making ground from last to take third money.
