Kawi right despite bad draw
Right-handed track at Ellerslie unlikely to be an issue in Zabeel Classic but outside gate could pose problems
Take little notice of the statistic that Kawi has yet to win a race right-handed when summing up Saturday’s $200,000 Zabeel Classic at Ellerslie. Of much more importance is the No 12 barrier at Ellerslie’s often tricky 2000m starting point.
Kawi has had four starts righthanded for two excellent seconds at Tauranga and a fourth and a third at Ellerslie.
In his first race at Ellerslie — his right-handed debut — Kawi stood in the stalls and watched the field go then ran a sensational final sectional to finish fourth. His third came in the Easter Stakes on an unsuitable rainaffected track. All four efforts could easily have been wins.
Although perhaps not entirely foolproof, Kawi is a much more rounded horse these days and the right-handed contour is unlikely to be an issue.
But the riding tactics will be interesting from the outside gate of the 12 horses. You have to stand on the course proper near the winning post to fully appreciate the height of the rise leaving the home straight. It is 250mm after the 2000m start and horses caught wide and moving forward expend significant energy.
The alternative option is to immediately drop to the back of the field, but horses doing that leave themselves vulnerable to a slow pace and tactical riding. That said, Soriano came from last at the 500 to win last year’s Zabeel Classic and Kawi is in the same league.
Weight-for-age races are meant to be tactical and this is almost certain to be no exception.
In a more enviable position is Stolen Dance, who has shown she can lead, sit outside the leader or come from last and win. Few horses have that versatility and coupled with an ability to sprint fast sectionals makes her the horse to beat.
The speed with which she has come from the lower grades to the headlines has been breathtaking and few winning performances of the spring match her come-from-behind win at Te Rapa last start.
It is very difficult to devise a plan to tactically ride against a horse as versatile. Trainer David Greene, who has done a magnificent job with the mare, says Stolen Dance has absolutely thrived since Te Rapa.
It seems as though Addictive Habit has been going around all year, but trainer Lee Somervell dismisses that notion with his usual good humour.
“He’s a warrior this bloke,” says Somervell, “he thrives on little spells, anything longer than three weeks away and he gets bored. He’s actually only had 36 career starts and he’s won nearly $800,000, so he’s not going too bad.”
Somervell says Addictive Habit badly needed his run at Te Rapa last Saturday and has tightened up perfectly. “And, he’s going to appreciate dropping 3kg by racing at weight-forage. That doesn’t happen often, usually they go up in weight, but he’s going to love coming down in weight.”
Somervell said he is proud to have two runners in a group one feature and declares Celebrity Miss as the race’s most underrated runner.
Soriano is in shape to attempt her second straight win in this race. Her sectional times lately suggest she is in career-best form.
Last night, Kawi and Stolen Dance remained joint TAB favourites at $3.80. Other odds: $4.20 Soriano, $6.50 Addictive Habit, $14 Pondarosa Miss, $18 Authentic Paddy, Celebrity Miss, $31 Thunder Down Under, $35 King Krovanh, $101 Splendido.