Unbeaten Prom Queen rests
Kenny Rae isn’t prepared to take any chances with his unbeaten filly Prom Queen.
The Ruakaka trainer has erred on the side of caution and decided to give the two-year-old a good break rather than send her to Trentham for Saturday’s Wakefield Challenge Stakes.
‘‘When in doubt, get out,’’ said Rae, who trains the daughter of Super Easy with his wife Lisa and their daughter Krystal Williamstuhoro.
‘‘We thought about going to Wellington, but she’s won both her starts and earned $40,000 already, not many win that full stop.
‘‘She’s having a month off and I’ll just see how she progresses – we’ll probably be looking at the Matamata Breeders’ Stakes.
‘‘She’s still down in Christchurch at Sandy Cunningham’s place and it’s great for her. There’s a back log of horses to get back from the South Island after the earthquake and there’s no rush to get her back up here.’’
Prom Queen has won both of her starts at Riccarton, including the Listed Welcome Stakes.
Meanwhile, Rae was more than satisfied with Kaharau’s effort to finish seventh in the New Zealand Cup. ‘‘He missed runs after the cancellations at Matamata and Otaki we were playing catch up with him, the cup just came up a week too soon,’’ he said.
‘‘He’s had 10 days off and he’s jumping out of his skin – he’s kicking and bucking and I’ve never seen him like that.’’
The winner of six of his 28 starts, Kaharau is also in the South Island and likely to continue his immediate programme there.
‘‘We’ll look to the country cups with him,’’ Rae said. ‘‘He’s still in the Wellington Cup, but we’ll take it one step at a time.’’
Twelve months ago, Kaharau won at Cromwell and he was unbeaten in his following four starts, including the Listed Dunedin Gold Cup.
Meanwhile Palmerston North jockey Robbie Hannam has gone with his head over his heart as he chases Group I success in Saturday’s Rydges Wellington Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham.
Hannam has ridden the Lisa Latta-trained Authentic Paddy in 48 of his 60 starts and been aboard for all 10 of his wins.
However, he has plumped for the Fraser Auret-trained Aide Memoire ahead of one of his favourite horses. "It’s a tough one because he’s been a great horse to me," Hannam said.
"It weighed pretty heavily on me, but I spoke to Lisa and she said I had to do what was best for me after all it is a Group One race.
"I’ve ridden Aide Memoire once for a Listed win in the Rangitikei Cup and she’s gone on with it since then. She’s probably not the better horse today, but she’s probably will be next year."
Authentic Paddy has been a consistent performer at Group level, winning the Group III Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m) and placing in a Group I Zabeel Classic (2000m) at Ellerslie. He also finished second in last year’s Group I Captain Cook Stakes behind Julinksy Prince.
The Captain Cook Stakes has attracted a strong field. The Donna Logan and Chris Gibbs-trained pair Volkstok’n’barrell and Hasselhoof, Abidewithme, Battle Time, Rasa Lila and defending champion Julinksy Prince are also entered.
Hannam will chase Group II success in Saturday’s Wakefield Challenge Stakes aboard the Lattatrained last-start Listed Wellesley Stakes-placed Dreams Of Platinum.