Kawi
Trish Dunell
Kawi is heading to the Gr.1 Harcourts Thorndon Mile at Trentham.
Plans for the Zabeel Classic winner have not been set in concrete but the Thorndon, on January 23, is expected to be his next assignment and would also serve as Kawi's leadup to the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa.
Kawi will probably tackle the Herbie Dyke Stakes in preference to a shot at the Gr.1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington.
Trainer Allan Sharrock is concerned that the timing of the Australian Cup would not be ideal for Kawi and the horse's Australian debut is more likely to be delayed till the Brisbane winter carnival.
"There is only a small window for the Australian Cup," Sharrock said. "He would need two weeks in the paddock and then have a month to the Waikato Sprint, which could be a hard race for him.
"He would then have a fortnight to the weight-for-age mile at Otaki and another two weeks to Flemington. It just looks a bit cluttered.
"The Herbie Dyke is worth good money and it's on our back door and he could possibly go to Otaki after that.
"We could then get him ready for a couple of races in Brisbane."
Suitable targets at the Queensland carnival include the Gr.2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) and the Gr.1 Doomben Cup (2000m), both at weight-for-age.
"It would be a bit more relaxed than Melbourne or Sydney and a chance to get him out of the cold here and see how he travels," Sharrock said.
"It would also give us a guide as to whether we should tackle the Melbourne spring carnival.
"I also think he will be a better horse as a six-year-old. Not that he hasn't done well this campaign."
Kawi has had four wins, including two at Group One level and a Group Two win, from seven starts this term and earned $344,000.
The Savabeel gelding will have a week in the paddock before getting ready for the Thorndon and a likely rematch with Zabeel Classic runner-up Stolen Dance.
"He doesn't come in too badly under the set weight conditions and he should be competitive again," Sharrock said. "He's pretty versatile." – NZ Racing Desk.
Plans for the Zabeel Classic winner have not been set in concrete but the Thorndon, on January 23, is expected to be his next assignment and would also serve as Kawi's leadup to the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa.
Kawi will probably tackle the Herbie Dyke Stakes in preference to a shot at the Gr.1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington.
Trainer Allan Sharrock is concerned that the timing of the Australian Cup would not be ideal for Kawi and the horse's Australian debut is more likely to be delayed till the Brisbane winter carnival.
"There is only a small window for the Australian Cup," Sharrock said. "He would need two weeks in the paddock and then have a month to the Waikato Sprint, which could be a hard race for him.
"He would then have a fortnight to the weight-for-age mile at Otaki and another two weeks to Flemington. It just looks a bit cluttered.
"The Herbie Dyke is worth good money and it's on our back door and he could possibly go to Otaki after that.
"We could then get him ready for a couple of races in Brisbane."
Suitable targets at the Queensland carnival include the Gr.2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) and the Gr.1 Doomben Cup (2000m), both at weight-for-age.
"It would be a bit more relaxed than Melbourne or Sydney and a chance to get him out of the cold here and see how he travels," Sharrock said.
"It would also give us a guide as to whether we should tackle the Melbourne spring carnival.
"I also think he will be a better horse as a six-year-old. Not that he hasn't done well this campaign."
Kawi has had four wins, including two at Group One level and a Group Two win, from seven starts this term and earned $344,000.
The Savabeel gelding will have a week in the paddock before getting ready for the Thorndon and a likely rematch with Zabeel Classic runner-up Stolen Dance.
"He doesn't come in too badly under the set weight conditions and he should be competitive again," Sharrock said. "He's pretty versatile." – NZ Racing Desk.