Sean Woods is hoping to become a 'Wizard In Oz' with Knockholt, who got back on the road to a potential trip to the Melbourne Cup with a gutsy victory at Newbury today.
Knockholt had made little impact in three previous outings this season and Woods feared the ground for the Savernak Mercedes-Benz Handicap, officially good to firm, would not prove fast enough.
But Knockholt, having looked in trouble early in the home straight, knuckled down well under Richard Hughes to get the better of a ding-dong battle with Kinnescash by a neck. Spirit of Love, the top weight who had made much of the running, was one and a quarter lengths back in third.
Woods said: 'At the start of the year we thought he might be the type to take to the Melbourne Cup. We'll see how it goes in his next couple of races and if he goes up enough in the weights then we will make the entry.
'He needs to have fast ground and up to now this season had been a waste of time. Maybe he could go to Goodwood if he does not go up too much for this, or abroad for a Listed race.
