Sharrock labels Kawi ‘the best’ after win
Proud trainer Allan Sharrock labelled Kawi ’’the best’’ after his sensational win in the Windsor Park Plate (1600m) at Hastings.
The handsome gelding needed all his abundant class to win Saturday’s Group I race adding to his previous four elite level wins.
Planted wide from barrier nine and pulling his head off for jockey Leith Innes, the punters who had made him the $1.70 favourite had every right to be worried.
Sharrock shared their concern and Innes wasn’t too happy either while the trainer also spared a thought for one punter.
‘‘The guy who had the $40,000 on, his ringa-dang-do would have been going,’’ he commented to Trackside Television’s Aidan Rodley.
Kawi was still stuck three wide at the 800m but had settled a little more kindly.
Mime shot clear and looked to have the race in the bag before Innes got down to business and Kawi’s amazing ability prevailed.
He stuck his nose in front right on the line to beat Mime with Rasa Lila flashing home for third.
Fourth placed Battle Time held up the first four payout while stewards debated whether he broke early from the barrier.
It was determined he got a slight advantage but was allowed to hold his spot.
‘‘Common sense has won out at the end of the day,’’ head steward John Oatham said.
Meanwhile Sharrock will let the dust settle before he decides if Kawi will make history with a Hastings triple crown clean sweep in a fortnight in the Livamol Classic.
His win in the Makfi Challenge Stakes three weeks ago sets up the possibility and would be something race fans across the country would love to see.
‘‘I’m tempted but I’m not sure, I need to talk to the owners - I’ll make up my mind tomorrow.’’
Wherever Sharrock takes the Savabeel gelding he’s going to be a force.
‘‘It wasn’t easy today - he’s done it hard,’’ Sharrock said.
‘‘He’s the best I’ve trained and I’ve trained some good ones.’’
Innes breathed a sigh of relief when the post arrived.
‘‘We didn’t have much luck,’’ he said. ‘‘Full credit to the horse, he dug deep. ‘‘Things didn’t go to plan but he won.’’ Kawi is in line for a trip to Australia with options including the Mackinnon Stakes in Melbourne and Perth features the
Group I Railway Stakes and the Group I Kingston Town Classic, but the lure of completing the Hastings triple crown will be hard to resist. Sensation at the barrier robbed the Group III Gold Trail Stakes of favourite Volpe Veloce.
The Foxwedge filly lashed out when loaded in the gates and was noticeably sore when removed from the barriers.
She was late scratched leaving the way clear for the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman trained Honey Rider to claim the black-type honours.
Volpe Veloce’s injuries appeared to include slight lameness and she was minus some skin.
Bred and owned by Charlie White and Andrew Lockyer Honey Rider led home Glass Slipper who flashed home to cut Mystery Show out of second.
Well backed Bella Gioia also finished well to run fourth.
Honey Rider gave jockey Michael Coleman three wins for the day with an earlier win on Francaletta also from the Baker-Forsman barn, and on outsider Oops Tommy for Todd Mitchell.
There was justified confidence around Honey Rider’s prospects.
‘‘We were very confident coming into the race,’’ Forsman said. ‘‘But my confidence dived when she got worked up before the race and started to sweat up.’’
Forsman said the filly’s programme through to the Group I 1000 Guineas had yet to be locked in.
On the undercard Francaletta in the increasingly familiar JML Bloodstock colours of Lib Petagna was hugely impressive in a special conditions race.
The High Chaparral mare has an exciting future.
On Saturday, Francaletta jumped quickly to race on the pace and she was far too good when asked for an effort in the straight.
‘‘She’s a quality mare and we found a soft sit in second,’’ rider Michael Coleman said. ‘‘When I popped her the question she found a length quickly.’’
Co-trainer Forsman said they had expected Francaletta to be hard to beat again with the improved going in her favour after she had to overcome a heavily rain-affected track first time out.
‘‘It was pretty testing at Matamata and she’s better off on good ground, we think she’s pretty good.’’