What’s The Story
Trish Dunell
While a number of his kiwi counterparts are hoping for some rain to hit Sydney over the next two weeks local trainer Stephen McKee has his fingers crossed that the Australian forecasters have it spot on with their predictions for this Saturday.
McKee will head to Australia on Wednesday with New Zealand Derby runner-up What's The Story who will tackle the rich Gr. 1 BMW Australian Derby (2400m) on the first day of The Championships carnival that kicks off at Randwick on Saturday.
It will be the first time in four years that McKee has ventured across the Tasman to tackle racings best although he is no stranger to success in Sydney through the deeds of champion galloper Sunline and redoubtable sprinter/miler Mufhasa.
"It's good to be heading over again as it's a few years since I've gone over to tackle one of their big races," he noted.
"We've enjoyed some success there so it would be nice to think we could do it again although I'm acutely aware of the big task we have on Saturday as there are some very classy customers we're taking on.
"Tarzino is the form horse and Tally looks like a potential star as well but we're not going to be scared off by them."
Despite the challenge McKee is confident of the chances of the three-year-old Savabeel gelding he prepares in partnership with Eddie Chippendale, after What's The Story went within a whisker of snaring the New Zealand Derby at his last start.
"He went a super race in the Derby and has pleased us since," he said.
"We gave him a couple of days off as he had had two very big runs in a row and he freshened up nicely.
"You would think on what he has done to date that 2400 metres on the big Randwick track is tailor made for him.
"The main thing now will be striking a good track as we know he doesn't really cop it when it gets wet. I've been watching the forecasts and they all seem to say there will be some rain early in the week but fining up from Thursday onwards.
"If that's the case then the track should be spot on and we are hoping can replicate his New Zealand Derby form." – NZ Racing Desk
McKee will head to Australia on Wednesday with New Zealand Derby runner-up What's The Story who will tackle the rich Gr. 1 BMW Australian Derby (2400m) on the first day of The Championships carnival that kicks off at Randwick on Saturday.
It will be the first time in four years that McKee has ventured across the Tasman to tackle racings best although he is no stranger to success in Sydney through the deeds of champion galloper Sunline and redoubtable sprinter/miler Mufhasa.
"It's good to be heading over again as it's a few years since I've gone over to tackle one of their big races," he noted.
"We've enjoyed some success there so it would be nice to think we could do it again although I'm acutely aware of the big task we have on Saturday as there are some very classy customers we're taking on.
"Tarzino is the form horse and Tally looks like a potential star as well but we're not going to be scared off by them."
Despite the challenge McKee is confident of the chances of the three-year-old Savabeel gelding he prepares in partnership with Eddie Chippendale, after What's The Story went within a whisker of snaring the New Zealand Derby at his last start.
"He went a super race in the Derby and has pleased us since," he said.
"We gave him a couple of days off as he had had two very big runs in a row and he freshened up nicely.
"You would think on what he has done to date that 2400 metres on the big Randwick track is tailor made for him.
"The main thing now will be striking a good track as we know he doesn't really cop it when it gets wet. I've been watching the forecasts and they all seem to say there will be some rain early in the week but fining up from Thursday onwards.
"If that's the case then the track should be spot on and we are hoping can replicate his New Zealand Derby form." – NZ Racing Desk