The King 'Kanes' Them

In training for cricketing maestro Brendon McCullum, King Kane (4 g Showcasing - Vannista Belle, by Van Nistelrooy) showed his readiness for cup week with a dominant display in the Rating 65 1400 metres on Sunday at Motukarara.

The race was sponsored by local watering hole The Famous Grouse Hotel at Lincoln.  King Kane was third fresh-up over 1200 metres on 13 October at Timaru, with the winner, Sensei (Dream Ahead), subsequently finishing second to 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) favourite Prom Queen (Super Easy) in the Barneswood Farm Stakes (Gr. 3, 1400m) at Ashburton, scoring again with ease earlier in the day, and thereafter shortened to equal second favourite ($6.00) for the 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) next Saturday at Riccarton.

“It was such a proud moment for us to have another win for Brendon McCullum in his Vermair racing colours, and on that performance he will be competitive in the next grade,” said Te Akau principal David Ellis, who was celebrating Karyn's birthday at Raglan.

“He's a guy I have so much time and respect for. He's been a fantastic ambassador for sport and racing in New Zealand, and we're both thrilled and proud to train winners for him.”

Punters heeded the form and King Kane continued tumbling in betting to close at $2.10 & $1.20 on the NZ TAB tote.

Confidently ridden by Matt Cameron, King Kane was allowed to find his feet in the second half of the field, tracked a wall of horses nearing the home turn and after a timely split at the 300m he second rated his rivals when racing away to score easing down by nearly four lengths.

“It was great to see Matt win yet another race for Te Akau, with another beautiful Matt Cameron ride, and the way the horse won just reinforces the fantastic job that Dan Miller and his team are doing for us in the South Island. The horses are going unbelievably well and leading into cup week in Christchurch is always a very exciting time for everyone involved with our stable,” Ellis said.

King Kane bettered the time of Sensei, over the same trip, running the 1400 metres in a highly respectable 1:22.6 on Good3 footing.

It was a year ago (Nov. 6) that King Kane put a field away in similar fashion to win his Maiden over 1600 metres at Hastings, a run that prompted trainers Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards to line him up in the Wellington Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m) at his next start.

“It was a really good win and Dan (Miller) and his team have done a great job with him,” Richards said.

“He ran very well first up behind Sensei, the form is franked, he travelled strongly mid race and was very dominant in the end to put them away. He's a horse that Vermair gave us to train after they purchased him at the Ready to Run Sale, and it's great to have a nice horse in the stable for Brendon  McCullum.

“He was a little bit of an enigma as a three-year-old. We tried to make him stay and looked to get him out to a Derby trip and he did run in the Wellington Stakes at Otaki, but he might be shaping as more of a sprinter-miler type and we think there is a nice race in him in the near future.”

King Kane was strapped by Daniel Miller.