Hotshots draw wide gates
Makfi Stakes could throw up an upset with Kawi starting two from outside
The news was all bad for connections of three of the top four favourites for the Makfi Challenge Stakes at Hastings on Saturday, when the barrier draw was conducted yesterday.
Last year’s winner and this year’s prepost favourite at $4.20, Kawi drew 15 at the 1400m barrier in what will be his first start for the season.
The Donna Logan and Chris Gibbs stable had little to smile about despite saddling up two of the next trio in the betting, Valley Girl ($5.50 equal second elect) and Hasselhoof ($6.50).
The only good news is that both will be able to keep an early eye on Kawi, with Valley Girl drawing 14 and Hasselhoof, one from the outside, in 16. Battle Time will start from out in car park at 17.
However Te Rapa horseman David Greene would have been smiling after the other $5.50 equal favourite Stolen Dance drew six.
Matamata galloper Southern Icon has pleased trainer Alan Tait after his Foxbridge Plate disappointment and will begin from gate 12. Tait said he had galloped satisfactorily in his work yesterday.
Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman will saddle up Mime (two) and recent Australian acquisition Our Vergara (three), while fellow Cambridge mare No More Tears has barrier nine.
She should be better suited at Hastings after striking an unsuitable track at Te Rapa where finishing second in the Foxbridge Plate, just ahead of Authentic Paddy, who has drawn four. The latter has a good record at Hastings, particularly at this meeting, and looks nice each-way value at $16 to spice up the multis.
The track yesterday was rated a dead (5) with overcast weather predicted.
Field: R7, 3.46pm MAKFI CHALLENGE STAKES, $200,000, WFA, 1400m.— Kawi (15), Authentic Paddy (4), Farm Boy (7), Hasselhoof (16), Southern Icon (12), El Pescado (11), Ginner Hart (5), Longchamp (8) 59; Battle Time (17) 58.5; Stolen Dance (6), Our Vergara (3), Bohemian Lily (10) 57; Valley Girl (14), No More Tears (9), Capella (1), Mime (2) 56.5. Emg: Under the moonlight (13)57.
Early market: $4.20 Kawi, $5.50 Stolen Dance, Valley Girl; $6.50 Hasselhoof, $9 Capella, No More Tears; $16 Authentic Paddy, $31: Mime, Under the moonlight; $35 El Pescado, Ginner Hart, Southern Icon; $36 Longchamp, $41 Battle Time, Our Vergara; $51 Farm Boy, $61 Bohemian Lily.
Melbourne jockey Damien Oliver will partner Cambridge gelding Sacred Elixir in an 800m jumpout at Flemington today as he continues his buildup to the Caulfield Guineas.
Pike said Sacred Elixir would resume in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) on September 24 before tackling the million Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October 8.
“Sacred Elixir looks extremely promising and I can't wait to get him up to the mile of the Guineas and heading on towards the Derby, he looks like a really exiting 3-yearold,” Pike said.