Kawi is punters’ mate in Windsor
PROUD trainer Allan Sharrock labelled Kawi ’’the best’’ after his sensational win in the Windsor Park Plate (1600m) at Hastings.
The handsome gelding needed all his abundant class to win Saturday’s Group I race adding to his previous four.
Planted wide from barrier nine and pulling his head off for jockey Leith Innes, the punters who had made him the $1.70 favourite had every right to be worried.
Sharrock shared their concern and Innes wasn’t too happy either while the trainer also spared a thought for a punter.
‘‘The guy who had the $40,000 on, his ringa-dang-do would have been going,’’ he told Trackside Television’s Aidan Rodley.
Kawi was still stuck three wide at the 800m but had settled a little more kindly.
Mime shot clear and looked to have the race in the bag before Innes got down to business and Kawi’s amazing ability prevailed.
He stuck his nose in front right on the line to beat Mime with Rasa Lila flashing home for third.
Fourth placed Battle Time held up the first four payout while stewards debated whether he broke early from the barrier.
It was determined he got a slight advantage but was allowed to hold his spot.
‘‘Common sense has won out at the end of the day,’’ head steward John Oatham said.
Meanwhile Sharrock will let the dust settle before he decides if Kawi will chase the Hastings triple crown in a fortnight in the Livamol Classic.
‘‘I’m tempted but I’m not sure - I’ll make up my mind tomorrow.’’
Wherever Sharrock takes the Savabeel gelding he’s going to be a force.
‘‘He’s the best I’ve trained and I’ve trained some good ones,’’ he said.
If he decides to in favour of the Livamol Kawi would create history as the first horse to win the Group I treble.
Sensation at the barrier robbed the Group III Gold Trail Stakes of favourite Volpe Veloce.
The Foxwedge filly lashed out when loaded in the gates and was noticeably sore when removed from the barriers.
She was late scratched leaving the way clear for the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman trained Honey Rider to claim the black-type honours.
Bred and owned by Charlie White and Andrew Lockyer she led home a quinella for sire Pins with Glass Slipper flashing home to cut Mystery Show out of second.
Well backed Bella Gioia also finished well to run fourth.
Honey Rider gave jockey Michael Coleman three wins for Trish Dunell the day with an earlier win on Francaletta also from the BakerForsman barn, and on outsider Oops Tommy for Todd Mitchell.
There was justified confidence around Honey Rider’s prospects.
‘‘We were very confident coming into the race,’’ Forsman said. ‘‘But my confidence dived when she got worked up before the race and started to sweat up.’’
Forsman said the filly’s programme through to the Group I 1000 Guineas at Riccarton had yet to be locked in.
On the undercard Francaletta in the increasingly familiar JML Bloodstock colours of Lib Petagna was hugely impressive.
The High Chaparral mare has an exciting future.
On Saturday, Francaletta jumped quickly to race on the pace and she was far too good when asked for an effort in the straight.
‘‘She’s a quality mare and we found a soft sit in second,’’ rider Michael Coleman said. ‘‘When I popped her the question she found a length quickly.’’ LA Diosa has her first Listed win in the bag but it’s what she did after it that has her being talked about as a Group I contender.
Riccarton race caller Mark McNamara told punters to ‘‘jot it down in their black books’’ because La Diosa was ‘‘looking for further’’ when she scorched home late for third over 1000 metres two weeks ago and she franked that form when winning the $50,000 Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes on Saturday.
The step up to 1200 metres was the key for co-trainer Matt Brown, but talk quickly turned to how she will handle the mile in the Group I 1000 Guineas.
Given she did her best work in the last 200 and was still bolting after the winning post, the signs are promising for Brown, who trains in partnership with wife Mandy.
Apprentice Racha Cuneen said La Diosa was only winding up at the finish and gave him the impression she would relish a mile.
‘‘She’s bred to stay so we’re hoping, but you never really know to you get there,’’ Brown said of La Diosa, a daughter of So You Think out of Star Affair.
Bookmakers are obviously confident she will get the mile.
They have crunched La Diosa from $16 into $8 in the futures market for the Group I Guineas on the back of her second win from just four starts. Cuneen kept La Diosa much handier than her previous start and his ride won praise from Brown.
‘‘We wanted to get a bit handier today. We were close enough to be in contention and we’re really happy with the way she finished it off,’’ Brown said.
La Diosa went past race favourite, Starvoia to win by a long head on the dead 4 surface.
Brown said La Diosa will only have one more start before contesting the 1000 Guineas but where and when is yet to be decided.
The well supported O’Naturelle was third, two lengths behind Starvoia.
One race later, Southland raider Stokers Rock picked up his fourth win in a row when winning the New Zealand Cup Trail.
The Graham Eade-trained runner is not nominated for the New Zealand Cup.
‘" He's the best I've trained and I've trained some good ones."’ ALLAN SHARROCK, TRAINER.