Awapuni trainer Mike Breslin finished the season on a high at his home synthetic meeting on Friday when recording a winning double, including Kereti taking out the $60,000 Power Farming Manawatu Awapuni Synthetic Final (1400m).
The Darci Brahma gelding has been in solid form, winning two and runner-up in one of his last four starts, and he was duly backed into $1.90 favouritism in the six-horse field.
Leading apprentice jockey Amber Riddell urged him out of the gates and worked forward to take up pace-making duties. Left unchallenged in front, Kereti travelled comfortably throughout and won as he liked, easing down to score by 2-1/2 lengths.
Off his recent performances, Breslin was confident of a bold showing, and he was thrilled to see his gelding earn the lion’s share of the $60,000 purse on offer.
“It was a nice way to finish off the season, especially for Kereti to get a decent stake under his belt,” Breslin said.
"He was too good for them two starts ago when he won by five (lengths), so with a 3.5kg swing (in weight) it was just a matter of how much difference that would make against a similar field, and it brought him from a five-length winner to 2.5.”
Kereti will likely return to the track in a fortnight where he will contest another rich synthetic feature – the $75,000 Polytrack Championship (1400m).
“Weight is going to be getting more of an issue on the poly for him, but we will just see how he comes through this and see what the handicapper does to him for today,” Breslin said.
Earlier on the card, stablemate Popinjay broke through for his maiden win in the Prydes Easifeed Maiden 2140.
“He is a three-year-old that is quite immature still, both mentally and physically, so I am quite happy to get a win under his belt,” Breslin said. “It takes a lot of pressure off.
“He is a horse that will furnish over the next couple of years.”
Looking ahead to next season, Breslin is excited by the prospects of his young team, while Crouch and Intention loom as key players in his older division.
“I have got a few in the stable that are turning two tomorrow, and you just hope,” Breslin said.
“Intention had a few issues as a three-year-old after winning a Group Two as a two-year-old. I think she is a horse that has come back a lot better and is over the little issues that we had with her, so I am looking forward to seeing how she comes up.
“Things didn’t work out for Crouch in Australia, but we will get him back and have another go at the Wellington Cup (Gr.3, 3200m).”