Hurdle Schooling Sharpens Ex-Aussie
- Thursday, 31 December 2009 06:54
A few quick jumps in training has helped sharpen up former Australian sprinter Kiloton for the Group One Railway Stakes at Ellerslie on Friday.
Kiloton was transferred to Matamata trainer John Sargent six weeks ago in an attempt to get some Group One black type into him before he heads to stud in Manawatu.
Since then Sargent, one of New Zealand's leading trainers, has used several techniques to ready Kiloton - including jumping some obstacles.
Jumping horses in training is not uncommon for flat horses in New Zealand but rare in Australia, and it surprised his Australian part-owner Kerry Grocott.
Kiloton, by Spinning World, won five of his 14 races in Australia and was twice third in Group Three sprints.
He was originally raced solely by Grocott before a half-share was bought in him by New Zealanders with the aim of standing him at Wellfield Stud in Manawatu at the end of his career.
Since his arrival Kiloton has won a trial comfortably at Cambridge and was at \$15 on the TAB fixed odds market.
"He's drawn 13, which isn't normally great at Ellerslie, but if the ballots come out he will start at 10," Sargent said.
"That's usually about as wide as you'd want to be for the Railway, but he does settle off the pace so it won't be too bad."
Sargent also lines up Ruud Van Slaats in the 1200m Railway but said she may find the race a bit sharp for her.
"She's coming back from 1600 metres. She should be more ready for 1200 metres in the Telegraph Handicap (at Trentham in late January) but she does have class on her side," Sargent said.
Sargent said the race had opened up with the withdrawal before nominations of boom mare Wealth Princess. Reigning Horse of the Year Mufhasa was the \$4.50 favourite.
"The Aussie A Gold Trail was probably the hardest to beat but he's drawn 17, which will be tough," Sargent said.
Sargent also has two chances in the rich Group Two City of Auckland Cup (2400m), Red Ruler and So Royal.
Red Ruler was a solid second to Vosne Romanee in the Zabeel Classic (2000m) on Boxing Day and drops to 54kg tomorrow.
"He came through the weight-for-age race beautifully and drops 5kg so he should be a great chance," Sargent said of the \$5 shot.
"So Royal is a very good lightweight and has picked up well since running seventh in the Manawatu Cup, which was her first race since the New Zealand Cup."
Sargent also has good prospects in the Group Three Eclipse Stakes (1200m) for two-year-olds with Banchee, the winner of her only start.
"She's a very promising filly, a half-sister to Katie Lee, and she's already won at Ellerslie which is a big help," he said.
"This will probably be her final race before the Karaka Million at the end of January."
In other Ellerslie highlights tomorrow, Katie Lee will try to extend her Filly of the Year Series lead in the Group Two Royal Stakes (2000m), and an open field contests the Group Two Rich Hill Mile (1600m).
