No trip north as Kawi set for another Trentham run

A trip north for Kawi has been ruled out with the star galloper set for a return to Trentham in the New Year in pursuit of further top-flight honours.

The son of Savabeel produced a commanding performance there to win Saturday’s Gr.1 Captain Cook Stakes (1600m), his sixth success on the course.

“He’s won seven Group Ones now and he ain’t finished yet,” trainer Allan Sharrock said.

“He won’t be going to Ellerslie, though, for the Zabeel Classic, if I’m going to run him over 2000m again it will be toward the end of his season.”

Kawi’s quest for an eighth Gr.1 victory — which would draw him level with all-time domestic leader Mufhasa — will centre next month on the Harcourts Thorndon Mile (1600m) or the JR & N Berkett Telegraph (1200m).

“They are the options and we can put the blinkers on if it’s the Telegraph, if we decide not to, it will be the Thorndon,” Sharrock said.

Before deciding the Trentham possibilities, Kawi could head to Awapuni to defend a Group Two title.

“It’s a $100,000 weight-for-age race just down the road, it’s not to be sneezed at,” Sharrock said.

The race in question on Saturday week is the Kamada Park Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m), an event he won 12 months ago before beating Stolen Dance in the Gr.1 Zabeel Classic (2000m).

“We’ll have a look at Awapuni, he’s come through Saturday’s race terrifically well.”