Free-going stayer Sagunto has been a loyal servant of Peter and Shaun McKay’s stable and he will spearhead the father and son’s team at Trentham on Saturday.
The eight-year-old will defend his title in the Gr.3 Humphries Construction Manawatu Cup (2300m), in which barnmate Langkawi also looms as a serious chance for the Matamata trainers.
Eight-time winner Sagunto will follow an identical path to last year, having finished fourth in an open handicap at Pukekohe ahead of another southern sojourn.
“He’s definitely better for that run and he was carrying 61kg and he comes down to a nice weight (55kg) this time with the topweight (Colorado Star) pushing a few of them down, so it’s worked out well,” Peter McKay said.
“It didn’t help that he got taken on last time and I was expecting him to pull up and run last on the corner, but he dug deep.
“In his lead-up race last year he did run last and then came out and won the Cup so hopefully he does it again.”
Lisa Allpress successfully combined with Sagunto 12 months ago and she will be reunited with the son of O’Reilly on Saturday.
“She obviously knows how to ride him and lets him roll and do his thing,” McKay said.
Safely through the weekend, Sagunto may again tackle the Listed Marton Cup (2200m) and the Gr.3 Trentham Stakes (2100m), having finished runner-up in both events last season.
Langkawi gave a strong account of himself at his latest outing when he ran second for apprentice Jim Chung, who will take the mount again, on the course earlier this month.
“It was a good run, he jumped and pulled quite hard. He was instructed to bring him out into the better part of the track and he kicked again,” McKay said.
“He’s a funny horse and needs something to chase and he was out there by himself with his ears pricked. In the last couple of strides he spotted the winner (Fierce Flight) coming inside him and had another dive.”
The stable is also looking forward to the debut run of Eminent colt Rocky Marciano in the Japac Homes 2YO (1100m).
“He’s had two trials and the first one was disastrous, he went up in the gates and he sat back and then rolled up to them the last bit,” McKay said.
“He had a few days in the paddock before he trialled again and he jumped and sat outside the leader and then blew out. He’s had a couple of nice gallops since.”
The stable will also be represented by the capable pair of Bad ‘N’ Bouj and Wolfgang in the Noel Eales Memorial Cup (1600m).
The former will be dropping significantly in grade after she tailed the field home in the Gr.3 Eagle Technology Stakes (1600m) behind El Vencedor and McKay was forgiving of that performance.
“They went very slowly and when she went to go, they sprinted and wherever they were around the corner is where they finished, bar the winner who left them to it,” he said.
“Her start before, she got back and couldn’t get a run and ran home well. She loves Trentham and I think she will be a very good chance.”
Wolfgang has also performed well on the track in the past and from four appearances has a distance victory to his credit and three placings, including a second as a juvenile in the Listed Wellesley Stakes (1000m).