Amalfi Prince to chase bigger targets
Smart three-year-old Amalfi Prince will continue on a black-type path after his upset win in Saturday’s Gr.3 Manawatu Classic (2000m) at Awapuni.
The three-year-old gelding gave trainer Mark Walker his first stakes win since returning to the helm of Te Akau Racing’s New Zealand operation and Walker said the Gr.2 Trelawney Stud Championship (2100m) would be the next task for the son of Sebring.
“He goes to Pukekohe on the 23rd for the Trelawney Stud Championship,” Walker said. “If he happened to come out and win or place then we would have to have a look at the Queensland Derby.
“He is an interesting sort of horse. He was on the New Zealand Derby path but he just weakened off a bit so he had that freshen up and he has come back.
“He had that second at Matamata with blinkers on and just missed but I just think it was a good effort on Saturday because he did it from both ends. He went forward early from the wide gate and used a bit of petrol but he still had plenty of petrol at the finish.”
A son of Sebring, Amalfi Prince was bought by Te Akau principal David Ellis for $90,000 at the 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale from the draft of Ohukia Lodge.
The Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) will be run at Eagle Farm on May 28th.
Sakewin in stunning debut
Sakewin made the perfect start to his racing career when winning the Class 4 Peel Handicap (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Jumping from barrier 14, the New Zealand-bred swiftly found the rail to control the speed before surging away for a comfortable win, providing trainer Frankie Lor with a double.
“Sakewin’s a nice horse, he did a good job today,” Lor said. “The draw as a bit of a worry, but he did a good job. He could go up to Class 3 but he’s still not fully mature, so it might be a bit tough for him at this stage.”
Lor’s double gave him 61 wins for the season to draw level with former boss John Size in the race for the trainers’ title.
The son of Burgundy won two trials in New Zealand in impressive fashion out of the stable of Roger James and Robert Wellwood, where named Legend, before being sold to Hong Kong.
Kahma Lass joins Freedman barn
The Anthony and Sam Freedman stable unveiled some of its newest additions at Wednesday's Balnarring jumpouts, including Group One winning mare Kahma Lass.
The New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) winner Kahma Lass, who added the Listed Weekend Hussler Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield to her CV during the spring while still being trained by Jamie Richards, is being set for the Queensland Winter Carnival.
"She's obviously owned by Cambridge Stud and came from Jamie Richards," co-trainer Sam Freedman told Racing.com.
"She has spent a lot of time at our Flemington stable when Jamie would travel his horses.
"We've got a bit of background from Jamie and his staff on what she's like.
"She had a bit of a look around here this morning and went nicely.
"The plan is to get her up to Queensland, ultimately you probably aim up at a race like the Tatts Tiarra (Gr.1, 1600m) but there are some nice mares races up there."
Owned by the Lindsay family, the valuable daughter of Darci Brahma is expected to kick off in the coming weeks.
"We are yet to nail down where she will run but we are thinking potentially the Victoria Handicap (Gr.3, 1400m) in a couple of weeks," Freedman said.
"In all likelihood this is her last preparation before being retired but we are just feeling our way with her."