In-form filly Khanshe is giving every indication she will continue to excel as she steps up in distance toward her grand final at Trentham.
The daughter of Mongolian Khan is on course for the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) on March 16 and staying the Classic distance is the least of trainer Fraser Auret’s worries.
“I know you can’t say with certainty that they will, but I would be very surprised if she didn’t the way she relaxes mid-stages in her races,” Auret said.
“She is built in that mould as well, she is a really athletic type of filly for sure.
“She does seem to have a sense of timing about her and right from the time she won her first trial she has looked quite smart.”
Khanshe will continue her Oaks preparation at Hastings on Wednesday when she steps out in the Group 2 Lowland Stakes (2100m) off the back of a last-start victory in the Listed Oaks Prelude (1800m) at New Plymouth.
“To be fair, her two runs before that were both in stakes races so we obviously have a fair bit of time for her,” Auret said.
Khanshe was pitched into black-type company off a debut fourth at Waverley and then comfortably broke her maiden at Otaki.
She ran sixth in the Group 2 Wellington Stakes (1600m) at Otaki and again finished midfield in the Group 3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m).
“Her run at Trentham wasn’t the worst, she was only beaten three and a-half lengths with the blinkers on and she pulled quite hard that day,” Auret said.
“They have come off and we certainly weren’t surprised by the result in the Prelude.”
Khanshe also showed her versatility at New Plymouth where she copped a heavy track for the first time and handled it with aplomb, winding up late to claim major honours under Matthew Cameron who will ride her again on Wednesday.
“He is riding out of his skin and it’s a massive asset to have him on board,” Auret said.
Khanshe is currently sharing the third line of betting with horse racing bookmakers for the Oaks at +1300 and another bold showing will see her odds again trimmed.
The filly is raced by her Amberley breeder Rick Orr and is a daughter of the unraced O’Reilly mare Folies Bergere whose dam Dashing Donna was successful on seven occasions up to 1600m.
Although she was by Don Eduardo, she was blessed with abundant speed and claimed an edition of the Listed Newmarket Handicap (1200m) and finished runner-up in the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1200m).
“Rick has got a few nice young fillies and came on board about 18 months ago,” Auret said.
“We’re halfway through breaking in a Circus Maximus filly out of the mare (Folies Bergere) and she’s a lovely type and was out of the track this week for the third time.”
Auret is also thrilled with the progress of Uareastar toward the Group 2 Auckland Cup (3200m), a race she won in 2022.
“I’m very, very happy with where she’s out after the wet track really tripped her up in the Wellington Cup (Group 3, 3200m),” he said.
Despite the conditions, the daughter of Jakkalberry still finished a respectable sixth at Trentham.
“She really does need a decent track to let down properly, she’s got a massive stride and I couldn’t be happier with her,” Auret said.”
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