Langkawi put in a pleasing runner-up performance in the Listed Kaimai Stakes (2000m) at Matamata last month and will return to the same course and distance on Wednesday where he will attempt to go one better in the Holster Engineering Lally And Symes South Waikato Cup.
While pleased with their charge heading into his midweek assignment, weight is the biggest concern for trainers Peter and Shaun McKay, with the son of Helmet set to carry 60kg, 5.5kg more than his previous outing.
“He has done well but it doesn’t help that he is now carrying topweight of 60kg, especially with the likes of Graham Richardson’s (Snazzytavi, 57.5kg) in there who looks pretty hard to beat,” Peter McKay said.
“The other worry is the lack of speed in the race. He has got a habit of pulling in his races. If that is the case and nothing goes forward, we may have to jump and lead ourselves. We will work that one out once they have left the gates.”
All going well after Wednesday’s hit-out, a trip to Trentham could be on the cards next month to contest the Gr.2 Awapuni Gold Cup (2100m).
“We are looking at the Awapuni Cup or a week later is the Hawke’s Bay Cup (Listed, 2200m), but we are favouring the Awapuni Cup at this stage at the nice roomy track at Wellington,” McKay said.
Stablemate Wolfgang was also entered for the South Waikato Cup but was withdrawn following his victory over 2100m at Ellerslie last Saturday.
“We just about didn’t get to the races after being held up in the traffic,” McKay said. “We got to the races as race two was going out and we were race three.
“I didn’t want to be too tough on him and back him up after that, it was a good effort and he tried hard. He can now wait for three weeks or so (for his next start).”
The stable will also be represented at their home track on Wednesday by last start placegetter Final Impact in the Nevron Farms 1600.
“He went a really good race last start in a good field,” McKay said. “He is feeling really good at the moment so there is no reason why he can’t put his hand up tomorrow.”
Meanwhile, Group Three-winning stablemate Sagunto is enjoying some time in the paddock recuperating from a tendon injury following a pleasing summer where he won the Gr.3 Manawatu Cup (2300m) and was runner-up in the Gr.3 Trentham Stakes (2100m).
“He twigged a tendon,” McKay said. “He had done it earlier in the season, that is why he had those two starts and then didn’t race for a fair while. He came back and had those couple of placings and then won that race and then ran second.
“We swam him for a month, but I wasn’t happy with it (tendon), so he has gone out now and hope to come back as a young nine-year-old.
“His best form comes at the same time every year (summer). Usually he has a couple of starts around Hawke’s Bay, but he may need to wait a little bit longer and give the tendon good time to come right. Hopefully he will head to the same targets again.”