Ken Kelso saw exactly what he wanted from his Group One winner Levante (NZ) (Proisir) in her 850m trial at Te Awamutu on Tuesday.
She was tucked away on the inside early in her eight-horse heat by jockey Cameron Lammas before he produced her four-wide at the turn where she was able to range up alongside her opposition and score a comfortable three-quarter of a length victory.
“It was a nice trial. She had a nice hit-out on a grass track, on a nice surface. It was pleasing to see what she did,” said Kelso, who trains in partnership with his wife, Bev.
The daughter of Proisir is being readied for a hit-and-run mission in Australia next month to target the Gr.1 Darley Champions Sprint (1200m) at Flemington on the last day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
The Melbourne track was the scene of her previous Australian start where she was fourth in the Gr.1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) in March. She was clearly the first runner home on the grandstand side of the straight course, and her New Zealand form was franked by rival Roch ‘N’ Horse (NZ) (Per Incanto), who won the time-honoured race.
Kelso took plenty of confidence from that run and is set to follow the same blueprint with her this campaign.
“The Darley Champions Sprint is her target. She has had a nice hit-out today and we will just see how she comes through it,” he said.
“I have got the options of having exhibition gallops between now and when she flies over there (Melbourne).
“I would doubt whether she will trial again, I will probably use exhibition gallops before we go.
“We will do the same programme that we did last time. She will fly over the week of and have the one run and then come back.
“All going well, we have the Railway (Gr.1, 1200m) and then the Telegraph (Gr.1, 1200m) after that. There was nothing much before that (Darley Champions Sprint) for her.
“We will just get her ready here and then go over and just run her in the sprint. It is a big call fresh-up, but her fresh-up record is very good. Fingers-crossed everything falls into place.”
Kelso was also pleased with Les Crayeres’ (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice) third placing in her 1150m heat on Tuesday.
The five-win mare is set to make her raceday return in the coming weeks before a bigger target is sought for the Sir Peter Vela-bred and owned six-year-old.
“It was a nice trial. She found the line good and has come up well,” Kelso said.
“She will run within the next two to three weeks somewhere. She is rated 82 so will run in an open class race somewhere.”
Meanwhile, regally-bred filly Divici Belle (Not A Single Doubt) made a pleasing start under Kelso’s care when placing in her 1150m heat.
Out of broodmare gem Meleka Belle (NZ) (Iffraaj), the Not A Single Doubt filly is a half-sister to 14-time Group One winner and dual New Zealand Horse of the Year Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands), and stakes winner Tutukaka (NZ) (Tavistock).
“I thought it was a nice trial and she found the line okay. She learnt a lot today,” Kelso said.
“I haven’t done a lot with her. She had a couple of trials before I got her when Kylie Grass had her.
“She is probably six months away, but we will give her a run now and if the ground gets too hard then we can tip her out for a while.”