Sharrock rapt with Kawi

A sparkling jumpout at New Plymouth on Monday told New Plymouth trainer Allan Sharrock that Kawi was in the right condition to defend his title in Saturday’s Group I Makfi Challenge Stakes (1400m) at Hastings.

It was just the performance Sharrock wanted to see from Kawi as he prepares for the weight-forage first Group I of the new season.

‘‘He’s just had a 1000m jumpout and he went enormous,’’ Sharrock said.

‘‘That’s his final gallop. He’ll do very little now before Saturday. I’m very happy with where he’s at.’’

Sharrock confirmed Kawi would contest the Makfi Challenge Stakes after a pleasing gallop at Hawera on Saturday in company with another Hastings-bound stablemate, Bishopbriggs.

A knock to his cannon bone ruled Kawi out of the Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa earlier this month but Sharrock said the setback had cost his star galloper nothing but a leadup run in terms of his Makfi Stakes preparation.

‘‘We iced it and did everything right, took all the precautions, and he trotted up nigh on sound,’’ Sharrock said.

‘‘He nearly could have run in the Foxbridge but we just needed to look after him.

‘‘You can squeeze his tendon as much as you like and he doesn’t even wince, so he’s good to go. He missed one day of work and even then he was hand-walked that day so he’s ready.’’

TAB bookmakers on Monday had Kawi as a $5.50 second favourite for the Makfi Stakes behind impressive first-up Ruakaka winner Valley Girl at $5.

Safely through Saturday’s race, Kawi is likely to tackle the Windsor Park Plate (1600m) at Hastings on September 17 before Sharrock decides between the Livamol Classic (2040m) at Hastings on October 1 or heading to Australia.

‘‘If he happened to go very well in the first two, I could pop him on a plane to Melbourne,’’ Sharrock said. ‘‘There are some good races for very good money leading up to the $2 million Mackinnon Stakes.’’