Kawi dominates Makfi
Take nothing away from star galloper Kawi the favourite and superb winner of Saturday’s Makfi Challenge Stakes (1400m).
The Allan Sharrock-trained son of Savabeel dominated the Hasting’s Group I race in the hands of top jockey Leith Innes.
But the respective runs of second and third placed outsiders El Hermano 6-year-old geldings, El Pescado and Farm Boy, was the ‘‘feelgood’’ story of the race.
The duo came from humble beginnings and give hope to battling breeders across the land.
Firstly it’s worth noting Kawi wasn’t extravagantly-bred even though his sire Savabeel nowadays stands at a $100,000 service fee.
When Okato breeders Steak and Christine Goodin bred Kawi it was in the early days of Savebeel’s stud career and Waikato Stud introduced him at a comparatively bargain $35,000 fee.
The dairy farming Goodins bought Kawi’s dam Magic Time on the back of a good dairy payout in 2002 paying $18,000 for the daughter of Volksraad.
She never made it to the racetrack but has proved her worth through Kawi’s earnings of $820,350 and the promise of more to come.
On the other side of the coin, the runner-up was the next best thing to a gift.
Cleverly named El Pescado (Spanish for The Fish) is out of Annchips an unraced O’Reilly mare gifted to the gelding’s owners Frank and Faye Drummond.
The Drummonds stand his sire El Hermano at their Cheval Stud so the service fee to breed their O’Reilly gift was zilch - the result a Group I performer.
When Allan Hayward bred Farm Boy, the first horse he ever bred, El Hermano commanded a $500 booking fee.
When Hayward’s first horse, Lady Of Oakview, cracked a little bone in her leg in 2009 he retired her and put her in foal.
Hayward chose El Hermano because ’’he was within my price range.’’
But Hayward thought the sire had a great pedigree being a full brother to El Segundo a four-time Group I winner.
He’s never regretted his decision with the horse winning around $212,000 from his five wins and numerous placings.
El Pescado, trained by Stu Manning and ridden by Cameron Lammas, and Farm Boy from Tim and Margaret Carter’s stable and handled by experienced jockey Hayden Tinsley, will be back to join Kawi in the Hastings Group I, the Windsor Park Plate, on September 17.
Connections are still revelling in a Makfi to remember but dare to dream they can repeat the effort in three weeks.
El Pescado had started once at black-type before.
Manning, who trained topliners Syndrome, Bruce Almighty and Katy Keen, has always rated him up with the best.
‘‘We knew he was a good horse and I thought he was well leading into this, but he was taking on the best of the best today,’’ Manning said.
‘‘You can never be confident at Group I level against this sort of opposition. It was an outstanding effort. He tried so hard and ran a great race.’’
From 16 starts he has five wins, six placings and $133,975 in prizemoney.
Farm Boy’s Group II Avondale Cup win and Group I New Zealand Stakes placing were proof of his ability.
‘‘You’d think the 1400 metres would have been too short,’’ Margaret Carter said.
‘‘He’s given us a lot of confidence heading into the rest of the carnival - we’re certainly very happy and excited.’’