Kawi Handy Winner of Makfi Challenge
Description:
Favorite Kawi christened group I racing in New Zealand for the 2015-16 season when easily winning the Makfi Challenge at Hastings.
A 5-year-old Savabeel gelding, Kawi race midfield behind a cracking pace as the field of 16 was soon strung out some 20 lengths down the backstretch.
When runners bunched on the home turn, Kawi was caught wide on the outside under jockey Leith Innes. Runner-up Ryan Mark, close the pace early, made a sprint for the finish line while pursued by Ginner Hart, but Kawi rallied fastest of all to win by 1 1/4 lengths. Ginner Hart held for third, another 1 1/4 lengths back.
"He's a lovely horse to ride and there was a bit of speed on before they steadied at the 700-meter mark when I crept forward and he did the rest," Innes said. "He won pretty easily in the end."
Time for 1,400 meters (about seven furlongs) on turf rated as dead was 1:22.25.
Trained by Allan Sharrock for a partnership, Kawi has a 7-5-1 record from 16 career starts, including his victory in the Hooker Pacific Taranaki Cup (NZ-I) in February. In one of two previous tries at the highest level, he finished a close third in the Easter Handicap (NZ-I) in April at Ellerslie but got job done Saturday to breakthrough in the category.
Kawi was bred in New Zealand from the Volkraad mare Magic Time.