Kawi
Trish Dunell
The pre-race instructions from Allan Sharrock to his former champion apprentice before Saturday's $A1 million Gr.1 Kingston Town Stakes at Ascot will be succinct.
The New Plymouth trainer's words to Michael Walker will be don't get cluttered up and get the multiple Group One-winning six-year-old rolling before the turn.
"I just think the main thing is to get him out 600 from home and have a crack at them," Sharrock said.
"At weight-for-age the best horse wins in my opinion. It suits Kawi, they all come up to his weight now and we've had two nice runs to ready him for this.
"It has always been our target race and I couldn't be happier with my horse and the rest is really up to him and Michael on the day and luck in the run."
Kawi is unbeaten at the Kingston Town distance of 1800 metres, having won last year's Gr.3 Taranaki Cup over the trip.
"I would have said a mile was his best distance, but he has only had one crack at 1800m and won that and he's won a Group One over 2000m and placed in Group One over 2000m so I think the distance on Saturday is perfect for him," Sharrock said.
Kawi was a last-start sixth in the Gr.1 Railway Stakes and the gelding has come through the race in perfect order.
"He would have got closer with some clear air and he was quite happy to pick grass afterwards in the birdcage so he didn't really have a hard run," Sharrock said. "He's thrived since."
He believes the local hope Perfect Reflection will be the hardest to beat on Saturday.
"She's honest and she's got a nice barrier at two," Sharrock said. "She going to be tough and being a mare she gets a couple of kilos off them." – NZ Racing Desk.
The New Plymouth trainer's words to Michael Walker will be don't get cluttered up and get the multiple Group One-winning six-year-old rolling before the turn.
"I just think the main thing is to get him out 600 from home and have a crack at them," Sharrock said.
"At weight-for-age the best horse wins in my opinion. It suits Kawi, they all come up to his weight now and we've had two nice runs to ready him for this.
"It has always been our target race and I couldn't be happier with my horse and the rest is really up to him and Michael on the day and luck in the run."
Kawi is unbeaten at the Kingston Town distance of 1800 metres, having won last year's Gr.3 Taranaki Cup over the trip.
"I would have said a mile was his best distance, but he has only had one crack at 1800m and won that and he's won a Group One over 2000m and placed in Group One over 2000m so I think the distance on Saturday is perfect for him," Sharrock said.
Kawi was a last-start sixth in the Gr.1 Railway Stakes and the gelding has come through the race in perfect order.
"He would have got closer with some clear air and he was quite happy to pick grass afterwards in the birdcage so he didn't really have a hard run," Sharrock said. "He's thrived since."
He believes the local hope Perfect Reflection will be the hardest to beat on Saturday.
"She's honest and she's got a nice barrier at two," Sharrock said. "She going to be tough and being a mare she gets a couple of kilos off them." – NZ Racing Desk.
