Otaki trainer Karen Zimmerman will be looking to get the thumbs
up for an Australian campaign from rider Gavin McKeon after King Of
Ashford contests the Gr.3 $75,000 Merial Metric Mile (1600m) at
Awapuni on Saturday.
McKeon will be having his first raceday ride on the six-year-old,
but got a taste of the horse's ability when riding him in trackwork
at Otaki on Thursday morning.
"Gavin was really pleased with the way he felt and I couldn't be
happier with the horse," said Zimmerman.
"He's extremely well and has done plenty of work so he's ready for
a big race fresh-up.
"I expect him to be hard to beat."
If King Of Ashford lives up to Zimmerman's expectations he will
remain on track for a three-race Melbourne campaign later this
year.
Zimmerman plans to use the $A100,000 Gr.3 Coongy Handicap (2000m)
at Caulfield on October 21 as the launching pad for King Of
Ashford's Australian campaign.
The horse will then contest the Gr. 1 $A500,000 MacKinnon Stakes
(wfa 2000m) at Flemington on November 4 and the Gr. 2 $A400,000
Sandown Classic (wfa 2400m) at Sandown a fortnight later.
"He'll have two runs here before he goes," said Zimmerman.
"The second run will be in the Matamata Cup (on October 7)."
King Of Ashford hasn't raced since winning the Gr.2 Davmet
Hawkes Bay Cup (2200m) at Hastings last April, but he showed his
forwardness to resume with a 1200-metre trial win at Foxton on
September 5.
"He had a good hit-out in that trial and won it easily," said
Zimmerman.
"He has thrived since then."
Zimmerman is also represented in Saturday's race by Rodin who has
recorded half of his 12 wins at this distance.
Wahid winner of the Gr.1 Courtesy Ford Levin Classic (1600m) and
the Gr.1 Mercedes NZ Derby (2400m) last season, will be a very
interesting runner.
Wahid was given a well-earned spell after the Derby triumph and
resumed in the Gr.1 Mudgway Partsworld Stakes (1400m) at
Hastings, finishing eighth after a rocky run in the home
straight.
Trainer Allan Sharrock has also used trials as a build-up for Wahid
and will be looking for a top performance from the four-year-old on
Saturday.
Balmuse, a past winner of the Gr I Kelt Capital Stakes (2040m),
heads the field for the Merial Metric Mile with 58.5kg and should
give a good account of himself.
Two starts back he was held up when fifth in the Gr.3 Winter Cup
(1600m) at Riccarton, then at Rotorua last start over 1200 metres
he ran on late for fourth.
Bulginbaah shares second placing with King Of Ashford on the
handicap for the race, each carrying 57.5kg.
Bulginbaah completed a double when taking out the Listed Foxbridge
Plate (wfa 1400m) at Te Rapa at the expense of Don't Ya Lovett and
Seachange on August 19 and was then a creditable fifth to Seachange
in the Gr. 1 Mudgway Partsworld Stakes (1400m) at Hastings two
week's later.
Mohican Brave could be a strong lightweight chance in the event,
slipping in with 53kg.
The seven-year-old has had a problem-plagued career, but hinted he
was back on the right track when resuming at Hastings on September
2.
He was runner-up to group one winner Arlingtonboulevard at
Hastings, but relegated to fourth for home-straight
interference.
Baltaine earned a tilt at this race when running on strongly for
second at Ellerslie last Saturday and he will be out to attempt to
post his first win at 1600 metres.
Zvezda is a dual group one winner who was a close second last start
and does have a good record at both the course and distance.
Sir Slick was last home in the Gr I Mudgway Partsworld
Stakes, but his placing is best overlooked as he met interference
early in the run home.
He has a good record at Awapuni with two starts on the track for a
Listed win and a second placing.
King Of Ashford looks to rule Awapuni
Published: 10:12AM Saturday September 16, 2006 Source: ONE Sport
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