Favourite Kawi beats outsiders

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 Hastings 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, were the ‘‘feel good’’ stories of the race.

The duo came from humble beginnings and give hope to battling breeders. 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 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.

El Pescado and Farm Boy will be back to join Kawi in the Hastings Group I, the Windsor Park Plate, on September 17.