Aiming high with Kawabata
No certainty for run on Melbourne Cup Day
FRESHWATER Creek trainer Jamie Edwards will be holding his breath with talented stayer Kawabata.
The Geelong Cup runner will head to the $120,000 Prince of Penzance Handicap (2800m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day but is far from certain of gaining a run.
The six-year-old mare has a rating of 75 and would be one of the last horses to make the final field if it reaches capacity.
“A 2800m race at Flemington has her name written all over it,” Edwards said.
“If everyone wants to race on that day then I’ve got her in at Moonee Valley on the Friday night (before). But we will probably hang out and get her to that restricted-grade race.
“Flemington suits, 2800m suits and she gets in well at the weights.”
Kawabata has pulled up well from her 6.8-length defeat in Wednesday’s Geelong Cup.
Edwards was critical of the ride from Ben Thompson, who elected to drag Kawabata back to last after she jumped well and looked to settle closer in the run.
“I said to him three times that the one thing we don’t want is to jump out and go back to last, sit there at the 800m and try and improve when everyone else does and chase them home,” Edwards said.
“But she’s pulled up good." MEANWHILE, Edwards will be chasing a third-straight win with import Inastride.
The former New Zealand stayer has been good beating around the bush at country tracks and will head to a 2200m benchmark 64 race at tomorrow’s Hamilton Cup meeting.
“He will go well again Sunday without a doubt,” Edwards said.