Charles Dickens launched his 4yo campaign in fine style at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday, taking out the Matchem Stakes (Gr3) over 1400m with a heart-stopping narrow victory over Gimme A Prince.
As expected After The Rain ensured a decent pace but gave way to Charles Dickens approaching the final 200m and at that stage the Equus Champion seemed to be heading for a comfortable victory. But then dual Grade 1 winner Gimme A Prince loomed up dangerously from a few lengths back and Charles Dickens had to pull out all the stops over the final 50m to hold off Dean Kannemeyer’s runner by a neck.
All things being equal, Charles Dickens’ next engagement will be in the Green Point Stakes (Gr 2) over 1600m in December as he strides towards setting the record straight in the 2024 King’s Plate (Gr 1) in early January.
The first of only two defeats in his 11-race career came in the 2023 King’s Plate when he was surprisingly upstaged by Rocky Maingard’s Al Muthana. Charles Dickens avenged that defeat when beating Maingard’s runner in the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge at Greyville in June and they could well meet again at Kenilworth in a few months’ time.
By Graeme Hawkins, Gold Circle Racing
