Megablast off to Australia after impressive win

Following an impressive win at Ellerslie on August 26, Pukekohe Park based stayer Megablast is off to race in Australia again.

The six-year-old son of Shinko King was having his first start since he campaigned in Melbourne earlier this winter and he made light work of the 1600 metre open handicap event.

Despite carrying a massive 60 kilograms, he relaxed beautifully in the race, cruised to the lead in the straight and went on to win easily by two and three-quarter lengths in a canter.

After that run his trainer Nigel Tiley has nominated him for the Melbourne Cup in November and will test the waters in Sydney next week.

‘‘He will go to Australia on September 11 and run in the Kingston Town Stakes on the 16th, depending on how he goes in that race he will either stay in Sydney and run in the Metropolitan Handicap on the 30th or return home and run in the Livamol Classic at Hawkes Bay,’’ said Tiley.

‘‘We will just have to wait and see what happens in Sydney, if he does win the Metropolitan he is qualified for the Melbourne Cup, and that’s where will head.’’

Tiley said Megablast was an asset to the stable, because of his easygoing nature.

‘‘He’s such a relaxed horse, and he is only lightly raced, he has only had 24 starts and has won eight races and over $200,000.

‘‘He loves being in the stable and in the last 12 months he has never really had a real break, he has possibly had a month in the paddock at the most.’’

Megablast is owned by his breeders Di and John Bowbyes, and on the 26th was ridden by Michael Coleman, who also rode the only other local winner at the Pakuranga Hunt Club race meeting at Ellerslie.

That was Myrcella, who is trained at Byerley Park by Peter and Dawn Williams. A lightly raced five-yearold daughter of Makfi, she is raced by her breeder Gerry Harvey.

She has now won three races following her success in the rating 85 1200 metre event, from only 10 starts.

Myrcella should continue to race well through the grades while the tracks are still rain affected.

Fellow Byerley Park trainers Emma and Shaun Clotworthy, notched another winner during the week when the aptly named The Bumper won a maiden 1200 metre race.

A four-year-old gelding by Bullbars, The Bumper is raced by the Clotworthy’s long term clients Markwood Lodge.