Phelan has high hopes for Kajino Standing start could prove decisive factor in Hannon
HOW quickly the big guns can get away from the standing start tapes could be the crucial factor in tomorrow’s Hannon Memorial.
Their big race records have Akuta, Krug, Alta Wiseguy and Pembrook Playboy installed the clearcut top four picks in the Group Three Oamaru feature.
Alta Wiseguy and Pembrook Playboy head into the event with a distinct advantage over their two main counterparts in that they are both noted standing start flyers.
Alta Wiseguy skipped away initially first up at Addington last week before quickly regaining his gait and powering straight to the lead to set up an impressive win in the New Brighton Cup.
Pembrook Playboy made his usual smart beginning when he stepped straight to the lead in last year’s Hannon before being snookered on the fence, running a very unlucky fourth.
Star 3yrold Akuta heads into this year’s edition without having a standing start.
But trainer Mark Purdon has been pleased with the way the early Hannon favourite has handled himself behind the tapes in two recent trials.
Purdon is slightly more concerned about the horse going in without the advantage of recent racing.
But the master horseman admitted if Akuta was close enough on the home turn, his class could shine through.
“He seems pretty good, he has had two trials and gone well in both of them,” Purdon said.
“He is still a bit round and will need the run, but it isn’t a big field and he has been stepping away good at the trials.
“As I say, he will need the run, but in saying that if he were close to them he would give them a fright.”
Like Akuta, Krug has stepped away well in two recent trials ahead of his return in the Hannon.
But rewind the clock twelve months and the Cran and Chrissie Dalgety trained pacer had his share of issues behind the tapes.
Cran Dalgety is hopeful he has found the key to getting Krug away safely in a minor gear adjustment.
“We have taken his overcheck off and he seems happy and he has stepped away well in both of his trials.
“It is a different story come race day, but everything he is showing us right now suggests he can get it right, which he will need to in all of his racing this spring.”
Akuta has beaten Krug in both of his trials, but the 5yrold has given his younger rival a head start each time.
“He probably couldn’t have trialled any better. He has run some very slick sectionals from back in the field,” Dalgety said.
“We are taking on a tidy field but there’s no reason he can’t be very competitive.”
Akuta, Krug, Alta Wiseguy and Pembrook Playboy take on three Southland pacers who will make their debuts in a New Zealand Cup leadup tomorrow.
Macandrew Aviator, Mach Quillan and Tommy Waterhouse can boost their chances of making the country’s greatest race with a strong result.
WELLINGTON: Shaun Phelan will gain an extra dose of satisfaction if he can guide the inform Kajino to victory in tomorrow’s Great Northern Hurdle over 4200m at Te Rapa.
The top jumps jockey played a significant role in ownertrainer Diana Kennedy securing the 8yrold, who will face the sternest test of his burgeoning career in the race.
The Cambridge horsewoman was on the lookout last year for a potential jumper and Phelan recommended she contact the horse’s retiring trainer, Ernie Griffiths, with a purchase agreement subsequently reached.
Kajino has since won three times over the smaller fences, including an open hurdle success at Te Rapa in July with Phelan in the saddle, and also finished runnerup in the Hawke’s Bay Hurdle (3100m).
There was plenty of merit in that performance as he was beaten by star performer The Cossack, who 12 months ago provided Phelan with his first victory in the Great Northern Hurdle.
He is delighted to be reunited with Kajino tomorrow.
“I’m very, very lucky to be on Kajino and I do rate him. I rode him early on and he’s a pretty promising horse. Diana has done a super job and to be fair to the horse, it’s his first season as a jumper.”
Phelan will also be aboard leading hope
No Tip in the Great Northern Steeplechase over 6500m for trainers Paul Nelson and Corinna McDougal.
He guided the 11yrold to a laststart success in the Pakuranga Hunt Cup over 4800m at the expense of Magic Wonder, for whom he again has a healthy respect.
“I think the mare will be hard to beat. I reckon she will improve a bit more off that run and the weight [69.5kg] could get to my horse a bit,” Phelan said.
His other jumps ride at Te Rapa is No Tip’s stablemate, Suleman, in the Fairview Motors Maiden Hurdle.
The Redwood gelding placed in his only previous outing over the small fences over this course and distance earlier this month and then finished a sound fifth on the flat in premier company at Hastings last Saturday.
“He went really well the other day and I think he should be hard to beat,” Phelan said.
He will be combining his riding and training roles at Te Rapa with flat runners Enchanted Elle and Quiz Kid to represent his Cambridge stable.
Enchanted Elle will shoot for consecutive wins when she steps out in the BGP Battlers’ Cup over 2400m following her laststart effort to win an amateur riders’ event under 68kg on the track earlier this month in the hands of Phelan’s sister, Leigh.
“It was a super win and she probably had about 20kg of dead weight on her back so it was quite a tough win from a little mare.”
“She’s wellsuited with 55.5kg on Sunday over 2400m; she’ll keep going all day.”
Quiz Kid will make his first appearance since finishing fourth at Hastings in July when he contests the Waikato Stud Winners Circle Mile over 1600m.
“Hopefully, we’ve got him right and he had a jumpout last week.
‘‘A slow track would be perfect for him, but he will probably need a run and going forward we might be able to get him to a decent race before the tracks get too firm.” — NZ Racing Desk