Sam Kavanagh will rely on a mix of youth and experience to propel his fledgling stable towards a goal he concedes is a little lofty.
The young trainer has set his sights on a top 10 finish in the Sydney’s trainers’ premiership this season and he hopes to build the foundation during the summer months.
Realising his horses were either too young or too limited to compete at the top level in the spring, Kavanagh specifically targeted his team towards the upcoming off-season races.
He also visited the recent Tattersalls sale in England and came away with three tried European stayers who will arrive in Australia next month.
“I don’t just want numbers in the stable, I want horses of a high enough quality to compete in town,” Kavanagh said.
“I had some nice horses who trialled (on Thursday), I’ve got some nice horses trialling on Monday and a couple of nice horses racing on the weekend so I’m looking forward to it.
“Hopefully with a bit of luck we can get the stable up into the top 10 metro stables by the end of the season. It’s probably a ridiculous goal – we only had two metropolitan winners last year.
“But I’m pretty focused on doing that.”
Kavanagh has already equalled last year’s Sydney metropolitan tally and punters believe he can better it when last-start Canterbury winner I Am Zelady steps up to Saturday grade in the Cellarbrations Blacktown Handicap at Rosehill.
The filly is favourite in early markets and Kavanagh says her debut victory was no fluke.
“The form has really been franked with Nazca, Sebrina and Ravenswitch all running well since,” he said.
“It’s a hot race on Saturday….but I’m quietly confident.”
If I Am Zelady can measure up, Kavanagh will consider setting her on a path towards the Magic Millions Trophy at the Gold Coast in January.
He will also saddle up Midsummer Sun at Rosehill and says the horse has needed time after surgery to remove bone fragments.
On the corresponding day last year, Midsummer Sun finished fourth in the Zipping Classic at Sandown and Kavanagh doesn’t think the seven-year-old is too far off that form.
He sees Saturday’s race as a stepping stone towards the summer Cups races in Sydney, and a defence of the horse’s Gosford Cup crown.
