Charlton shows soft side as willing Quest For More makes all

Roger Charlton does not come across as the most touchy-feely of men, but Quest For More’s victory revealed this to be an incorrect impression of the trainer.

First there was the embrace with Charlie Gordon-Watson, the bloodstock agent who had sourced and bought Quest For More for owner Sultan Ahmad Shah, and then there were the words from Charlton.

“He’s a fragile horse and I like to look after him,” Charlton said when the prospect of a return trip to the Melbourne Cup was raised. “I’d rather do that in Britain than Australia.”