Michael Kent Junior sent a glowing report to the owners of Ayrton (NZ) as the New Zealand bred son of Iffraaj returns following a mystery infection which ruined his spring.
“I think he’s come back in super,” Kent said in the voicemail.
“I rode him twice during the week, and he just gives you goosebumps.
“He has the most amazing action (and) he’s matured mentally.”
Ayrton burst on the scene in late 2020 with two stunning romps at 1300 metres and 1400 metres and, after another subsequent win, he was installed as the favourite for the Gr.1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m).
He ultimately missed a run in that feature when he was beaten a lip in the Gr.3 Fred Best (1400m) one of only two defeats in his seven-start career.
He had two early spring runs before the mystery infection forced connections to pull the pin on that campaign.
Ayrton will again be aimed at the Queensland Winter Carnival with the Gr.1 Doomben Cup (2000m) the aim.
“We’ll just build him up slowly, we aren’t in a rush with him, we’ve got plenty of time,” Kent said.
“At this stage we’re earmarking him to get ready for potentially the Doomben Cup and maybe after that the Q22.”
“They’d be lovely races for him.”
Ayrton will likely kick off his campaign in Melbourne in April.
