This Listed mile field looked a cracker on paper as the race was always going to settle some pecking orders but also cause some reputation reassessments either plus or minus. It did all of the above with Kawi coming with a crunching finish to win narrowly but well under 53kg in what was an all lightweight finish. Kawi was winning his fifth race in eleven starts and he has started favourite in ten of those outings so has not always been the bettors friend when it comes to scoring. He clocked 1:36.26 and came from the back after a tardy start and being fired up buried on the inner. His rider Jonathan Riddell was probably thinking here we go again when in a perilous position across the top but got out and then took a middle route turning for home only to meet a wall ahead. Once angled wider into clear air the response was sustained and powerful plus by getting up to win so late it showed the 4yo is a pouncer or swamper in his races. He does have an affinity for Trentham so any roomy tracks he may tackle outside New Zealand such as Flemington, Randwick or Eagle Farm will suit his racing style. The runner up Waikaha was game in defeat after working up wide early and sitting outside the leader then going for home at the 200m. Locket did the South Island proud with a big finish down the outer also from the back and the mare is thriving on racing. Benzini was a good fourth and a decent race awaits him this year. The eyecatcher was Miss Three Stars that came from miles back at the 200m down the outer with big strides and she has been transformed since the winter of last year. Her fifth beaten just under two and a half lengths was super and the once Steven Anderton prepared mare is now in the Tommy Beckett stable. Capone ran well all things considered and Danica Guy has him back to near his best again. Langdon ran on well from the rear and is a middle distance horse as a rule. Iamishwara under 58.5kg ran a brave eighth after being wide and working overtime for most of the race. He is as durable as they come. Cassie Anne needs some cut in the ground at least and the 59kg anchored the leader Antonio Lombardo. The two big flops were the mares Sancerre and Tie Me Down with the former having a poor post race recovery. They are both much better than showed today so warrant another chance when next produced. The first seven or eight home all had some merit for varying reasons and hard to believe the form out of this race will not stack up this year. Kawi showed with a light weight and when his finish is timed too a nicety that his current earnings of just over 111K can be transformed into some very serious money if overseas is the plan. He can race for five times or ten times more at G1 in Australia this season under either handicap or WFA with the former most likely. Waikaha and Benzini should pick up something of note in New Zealand this season but why wouldn’t either go to Australia for superior earning possibilities and prestige on their respective pedigree charts?
