Kawi still the king of the mile

KAWI and comeback jockey Jason Waddell’s first start together has given the pair their sixth moment of Group I glory on New Zealand soil.

Waddell and New Plymouth-based trainer Allan Sharrock, combined to win the $200,000 Haunui Farm WFA Classic (1600m) at Otaki yesterday.

For Waddell, the win completes a remarkable comeback from a 12 month disqualification. Since returning in January, he has won 14 races, at an impeccable strike rate, with wins in Group I and II company.

Kawi’s three quarters of a length win, was Waddell’s first Group I victory since the 2010 Waikato Sprint, when he rode Tavistock to succes.

For Kawi, yesterday’s win was his first since the Group I Windsor Park Plate back in September 2016.

A measure of Kawi’s greatness was his $2.40 favouritism despite, eventual runner-up, Start Wondering’s last three races reaping two wins and a second all in Group I races.

Sharrock knows Kawi can do things wrong and in all likelihood as cost himself as many as three Group I wins, but also believes his stable stars record speaks for itself.

‘‘Not many wins six Group I’s. He is a serious, serious race horse.’’

Sharrock indicated Kawi was now likely to step up in distance.

‘‘The run today indicated to me he would finish off a strong 2000m,’’ Sharrock said.

He said the six-year-old’s next target was likely to be the Group I New Zealand Stakes at Ellerslie on March 11 over 2000m but said a final decision would come in the next few days.

If Ellerslie was the next stop, Waddell would retain the ride.

‘‘I can’t take him off after that. It was a peach of a ride and that’s probably as good as he has raced for anyone.’’

Sharrock, who has known Waddell for a long time, said it is a credit to Waddell the way he has turned his career around from some ‘‘monumental stuff-ups’’.

‘‘We’ve all made mistakes, me included, but his victory speech was very impressive and showed how humble he is,’’ Sharrock said.

‘‘He’s a very talented rider and he’s really settled down too.’’

Sharrock was quick to pay credit to the Rayners and Start Wondering.

‘‘He’s a very good horse too, don’t worry about that.’’

Long term, Brisbane in the winter is possible for Kawi but Melbourne in the spring is more likely.Win 14 at start 31 took the Savabeel gelding’s earnings past the $1.1 million mark. Kawi and Start Wondering drew clear in the final stages to put a clear gap on the field as the crowd cheered them home with a roar.

Sofia Rosa made up good ground late to run into third, a further two and a half lengths behind Start Wondering, after being last with 600m to run.

Meanwhile, Karen Zimmerman has had a fairytale finish to her Central Districts training career.

The popular Otaki trainer brought up win 500 of her training career when 58-1 shot Maximillien broke maidens at start six in race four.

The meeting was Zimmerman’s last as a Central Districts trainer. She moves her operation north to Byerley Park next week after 13 years training out of Otaki. Zimmerman brought up win number 499 two races earlier when Don Blanco broke maidens in race two on the card.

She may not have left the Central Districts yet, but Zimmerman is already planning a return with Don Blanco who broke through at start five.