Trish Dunell Photography
Nigel Tiley knows it will all come down to luck in the running with his Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) prospect Megablast at Hastings on Saturday.
Megablast is one of the fresh runners at the three-day Hawke’s Bay Carnival, but he has travelled far in preparation for the weight-for-age feature. His latest two runs have been on either side of the Tasman and his Pukekohe trainer has him primed to give a good account of himself on Saturday.
“I couldn’t be happier with his work on Tuesday, it was as good as he’s ever worked, but he will need a bit of luck in the running if he’s to get some of it,” Tiley said.
“It’s never easy in a Group One race and you just need to get some of the breaks.”
Megablast was freshened to win over 1600 metres at Ellerslie in August then taken to Sydney last month for a tilt at the Gr.3 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) with the result in the Randwick event being a ninth on a good track behind Libran.
He found the opposition too quick over the final stages on the firm surface in Sydney, but then rounded off his Livamol Classic preparation with a solid effort for fourth behind Chance To Dance (a race rival again on Saturday) in the Listed Haunui Farm Karaka Classic (1600m) at Pukekohe eight days later.
“I thought it was a good run last time and he’s done well since,” Tiley said.
Megablast has fashioned a good record, winning eight of his 26 starts and been placed on nine occasions, and his best form has been on slow to heavy tracks with seven of his wins coming in those conditions. His other win was on a dead track.
The Shinko King six-year-old will be ridden for the first time by Jason Waddell and, though he holds a nomination for the Gr.3 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup (3200m) there is no certainty he will be on hand for the November 18 feature.
“A decision will be made after Saturday,” Tiley said. “If he doesn’t go down we can keep him ticking over and look at races likes the Counties, Avondale, City Of Auckland and Auckland Cups like we did last season.
“He went some good races in them and it was a top run for fourth in the Auckland Cup,” Tiley said. – NZ Racing Desk.