McKay says 1400m will suit Cavallo Veloce
WELLINGTON: Jockey Shaun McKay has elected to ride Cavallo Veloce over stablemate Langkawi in the group 3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie on Saturday.
‘‘It’s been a hard decision for him, but he’s always had a lot of faith in Cavallo Veloce,’’ McKay’s father, Peter, who trains the pair, said.
‘‘I just said to him Langkawi is probably going to be the better horse once they get to the mile and beyond, but he’s a bit lucky; he can always get back on again.’’
In the interim, Grant Cooksley has picked up the ride on Langkawi, who has had five starts for four second placings and a win.
‘‘Unless I’m mistaken, Lang kawi will be going to the Derby, but I’m starting to think Cavallo Veloce might be just a little bit better from 1200m to a mile,’’ McKay said.
The Matamata trainer who prepared Puccini to win the group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) in 2014 has nominated three horses for the blueriband event in March, including Cavallo Veloce.
Already stakesplaced on two occasions, Cavallo Veloce broke maiden ranks when winning over 1200m at Tauranga at his most recent start and McKay is pleased with his progress.
‘‘His work has been good so we’re happy with him,’’ he said. ‘‘The 1400m will suit him down to the ground.’’
Langkawi has not raced since winning at Hawke’s Bay in October.
‘‘We put him out for a week or so and then he came back, and he just had a touch of a virus,’’ McKay said.
‘‘He’s had a lot of work stacked into him because he was going to go down to Otaki last week, but when it came up a slow8 I didn’t trust the weather.’’
‘‘He’s taking a while to click on to things but each step he’s gone he’s improved.
‘‘He’s got that same will to be a good horse; every start, he’s always dug down deep to try and win.’’ — NZ Racing Desk