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Chris Waller is banking on a new look to bring out the best in the New Zealand-bred Kaonic in the Gr.1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) on Saturday.
“He was a little bit disappointing in his mid-week race against the older horses carrying a top-weight,” the Sydney trainer said.
“Blinkers go on and he comes back to his own age group. Six weeks ago we thought he would have been our leading Randwick Guineas hope, but things haven’t quite worked out the way we would have liked them to. I can’t fault the horse with the way he looks and the way he is working.”
The son of Savabeel, who has won two of his five starts, will be opposed by stablemate Tangmere, a Kiwi-bred son of Frankel who was purchased at Karaka for $1.3 million.
“Tangmere is going to be better over 2000 metres in the Rosehill Guineas,” Waller said. “I feel this race is going to be an important stepping stone for him. His work has really improved.”
Waller is also represented by Derby aspirant Tangled and the highly promising D’Argento, the current $5.50 second favourite behind the well-supported Godolphin runner Kementari at $2.70.