Seven Group I wins for Kawi
POWERHOUSE Taranaki performer Kawi has edged closer to a significant slice of New Zealand racing history.
Success in Saturday’s Group I Rydges Wellington Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham was his seventh at the highest level to put him level with the outstanding mare Seachange.
They sit one behind the former two-time New Zealand Horse of the Year Mufhasa, who heads the hit parade with eight domestic Group I wins.
New Plymouth trainer Allan Sharrock has yet to decide his next step in his bid to further Kawi’s record.
‘‘We could stay at a mile or go to 2000m or freshen him up and go for the Telegraph – he’s a tractable horse,’’ he said.
Kawi was back and wide in the Captain Cook before he was urged around the field a long way from home. He was prominent on straightening and held a strong gallop in the closing 350m to trump Consensus and Sofia Rosa.
‘‘He’s a very good horse – he sat four wide and that’s not how we saw it, but he was tough enough,’’ Sharrock said.
‘‘He was travelling on the corner, it was a terrific effort.’’
Rider Jason Waddell said his pre-race plans went awry in the early stages of the race.
‘‘Down the back straight we were all over the place, we had a good spot and then got shuffled back.
‘‘I then rode him like the best horse in the race and kept him out of trouble and rolling along.
‘‘When the speed went out of the race 700m from home I got going. It’s a long way down that straight, but he’s just a tiger.’’
Consensus’ performance to finish runner-up was meritorious as she was tardily away and Sofia Rosa showed something of her best form with her late-closing run for third ahead of Benzini, who also finished off strongly.
Meanwhile, Haunui Farm studmaster Mark Chitty never had any thoughts Showcasing’s Xpression.
That determination to keep the filly, which he bred with childhood friend Iain Renton, was vindicated at Trentham on Saturday when she won the Group II Randwick Meats Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1200m).
‘‘We were 13-year-olds together at King’s College and Iain, whose father bred the Melbourne Cup winner Gold And Black, and I had three goes with Showcasing and this one was the best by a mile,’’ Chitty said. of selling daughter
‘‘I said to Iain let’s race her and we got a few others involved. It’s very exciting.’’
Out of the Don Eduardo mare Xpress, the Guy Lowry and Grant Cullen-trained Xpression is a three-quarter sister to the Haunui-bred and sold Hardline, winner of the 2015 edition of the Karaka Million.
‘‘They have done a great job with this filly. She hasn’t taken a backward step since day one.’’
Third on debut at Otaki last week, Xpression was a stride slow from the gates and came from last to inflict a first defeat on the hot favourite Espumoso, whose run was commendable after being taken on in front.
‘‘She’s always been an intelligent horse and really settled after her run the other day,’’ Lowry said. ‘‘She learned a lot from her first start.
‘‘She’ll probably have a bit of a break now. We could look at the Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes later on.’’ NZ Racing RACE IMAGES
‘ He’s a very good horse – he sat four wide and that’s not how we saw it, but he was tough enough’ ALLAN SHARROCK