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By Ray Hickson

It’s a tried and true path that co-trainer Tom Charlton hopes can lay the platform for stablemates Hurstville Zagreb and King Of Thunder as ATC Derby contenders.

Trainer Tom Charlton (Pic: Grant Guy).

While the Bisley Workwear Handicap (1900m) is a Benchmark 78 race, it’s one that’s been used a couple of times recently by John O’Shea to give his emerging stayers a path to the Tulloch Stakes in two weeks and then onto the Derby.

Back in 2022 Benaud ran fifth in the corresponding race and trained on to run second in the Derby while a year later Stroke Of Luck finished second at Rosehill and contested the ATC Derby before ultimately placing in the Queensland Derby.

Hurstville Zagreb, a brother to O’Shea’s WA Derby winner Awesome John, is unbeaten in two starts and Charlton said there’s no doubt he’s showing promise as a stayer.

“Whether a Derby comes too soon we’ll find out over his next run or two,’’ he said.

“He had a pretty good foundation off his last preparation from trials and was more ready to go this time in.”

The three-year-old won a maiden at Goulburn on debut then stepped to 1900m and, while his win looked a bit more grinding, Charlton said it had plenty of merit and the drop to 52kg on Saturday will give him his chance.

The gelding, $5.50 with TAB on Thursday, is a $26 chance in the Australian Derby with stablemate King Of Thunder ($4 at Rosehill) at $11.

“It’s a big ask for a big immature horse to go from Goulburn to Canterbury against older horses so we were pleased with the effort and there’s no reason why he won’t improve off it,” he said.

“He’s drawn nicely and gets no weight but it’s still a big ask. He’s still an inexperienced horse taking on seasoned horses but the draw and the weight will help.

“There’s no reason why he won’t run really well, we think he’s a horse that is going to make the grade in time.”

The seasoning from a spring preparation has King Of Thunder, who ran seventh in the Victoria Derby, better prepared but his campaign hit an early snag before he returned at Warwick Farm just over a week ago.

Charlton said under the circumstances he was far from disgraced when beaten under three lengths by Cool Jakey in a race that turned out to be a good pipe-opener.

“He just missed a week earlier in the preparation that forced us to run over 1400m last Wednesday and we were pleased with his run,’’ he said.

“They were a bit sharp for him over that trip but he did everything right and was strong through the line on the worst part of the track. We’ve got a bit of time for this horse.

“He badly over raced in the Victoria Derby and didn’t disgrace himself, we feel he’s a bit more mature in his race execution and we’re expecting him to get to some nice races.”

Expect a patient ride on talented filly More Territories in the Group 2 $300,000 Chandon Phar Lap Stakes (1500m).

While Charlton said there was no fault in the steer in her midfield finish in the Surround Stakes he felt she didn’t react as well as hoped to being on the back of the speed.

Hurstville Zagreb wins at Canterbury on February 28

“In that grade it might have been better riding her quiet and getting her to completely switch off. We probably rode her too well,’’ Charlton said.

“She’s over raced at times whereas first-up, just letting everything unfold, she relaxed and bounced up.”

Tom Charlton on Artistic Venture (race 4): “She is going really well, she hasn’t been blessed by barriers this campaign but we’ll leave it to James (McDonald) to try and overcome it. She probably enjoys getting a bit of room, we’ll see how it unfolds.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s meeting at Rosehill