Group One-placed as a spring three-year-old, Ashokan has been a work in progress since joining the Gai Waterhouse stable.
But both his trainer and jockey Nash Rawiller are confident the colt is ready to put it all together when he chases his biggest payday in Saturday’s $500,000 Inglis Guineas (1400m) at Scone.
Ashokan joined the Waterhouse stable last month but his first run for her didn’t go to plan when he bungled the start in the Gosford Guineas, making late ground to finish fifth.
Rawiller rode him in that race, recommending a gear change as a result.
“He missed the kick badly and raced a bit fresh,” Rawiller said.
“He had a nose roll on that day and seemed not to accept it very well so I recommended it came off, which it did at his next start.
“He showed a bit more of what he is made of last start.”
Ashokan was a last-start third behind Limes and Boban in the Hawkesbury Guineas in which he conceded the winner 2kg.
Saturday’s feature will be run at set weights and neither of the horses who beat him home at Hawkesbury will contest the Inglis Guineas.
Waterhouse believes the conditions of the race will be ideal and received a further boost when Ashokan drew barrier six in the field of 16 and four emergencies.
“It’s a very nice race for him,” she said.
“The horses who beat him at Hawkesbury aren’t in it and he is a lovely colt who is starting to get into his rhythm.
“He is a horse who, with a break, could come on and be a Cox Plate horse.”
Ashokan’s two wins have been over 1200m but he is a three-time stakes placegetter over Saturday’s 1400m journey, the highlight his third in last year’s Group One Golden Rose when trained by John O’Shea.
Ashokan was posted at $10 in TAB fixed odds’ opening markets for the Inglis Guineas with Kewney Stakes winner Flying Snitzel the $4.60 favourite, just ahead of undefeated filly Missy Cummings at $5.
