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Andrew Campbell has been encouraged by the recent progress of his former boom colt Cauthen.

The Opaki trainer has never doubted the son of Darci Brahma’s talent, but injury and illness have combined to stall the career of the four-year-old.

“He’s a very serious horse and these things only seem to happen to the good ones, but he’s had a couple of run alongs and he’s going really well,” Campbell said.

“I’m just hoping that one day he can show the true ability that I know he’s got.”

Cauthen made his first appearance one to remember two years ago when he won his juvenile debut by eight and a half lengths.

He then beat the subsequent two-time Group One winner Shamus Award in the Listed McKenzie Stakes at Moonee Valley before the thumps and shin soreness halted his advance toward the Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas.

Cauthen again pulled up sore after he had resumed with a second placing at Trentham 18 months ago and was later transferred to the stable of Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young for an unsuccessful two-start Melbourne spring campaign.

Randwick-based trainer John Sargent then took charge of Cauthen, but a wind operation prevented the horse from racing and he returned home to Campbell.

“It seems like he’s been around forever, but he’s only a rising five-year-old,” he said. “He’s had seven starts and the only time he was ever really right was the day the bolted in at Te Rapa.”