Kali’s NZ 1000 Guineas bid all go

Cambridge trainer Tony Pike has confirmed high-class three-yearold filly Kali will head straight to the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton next month after her impressive winning performance at Ashburton.

Pike spent time with the Darci Brahma filly on Sunday morning before flying home from Christchurch and was delighted with the way his charge had pulled up from her exertions the previous day.

Forced to sit wide on the pace throughout the running of the

Gr.3 Barneswood Farm Stakes

(1400m), Kali treated her agegroup rivals with disdain as she shot clear in the run home before cruising to a comfortable halflength victory. Kali is headed to the New Zealand 1000 Guineas after winning at Ashburton.

Pike was pleased with all aspects of the performance, particularly the way his charge handled the travel schedule on her way to Ashburton after the decision was made to bypass a run at Ellerslie next weekend.

‘‘We had a look at the longrange weather forecast as we had originally intended to run her in the Soliloquy Stakes (Gr.3, 1400m) at Ellerslie this coming weekend,’’ Pike said.

‘‘It looked like we might get a pretty wet track there so we rolled the dice and flew her down south on Wednesday.

While Pike is busy with his domestic team and the upcoming spring features, his attention will turn to Melbourne on Friday night where star sprinter The Bostonian will tackle the Gr.1 Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes (1200m) at The Valley.