Trainer Lloyd Kennewell will have to watch from afar when expensive colt Kazuhiko runs for the first time.
After scratching him from a two-year-old race at Caulfield on Saturday because of a wet track, Kennewell is sending Kazuhiko to Adelaide to run in the Group Three National Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville.
With coronavirus protocols requiring anyone crossing borders to undergo two weeks isolation, Kennewell will remain in Melbourne when Kazuhiko runs on Saturday.
A son of Deep Impact, Kazuhiko was a $1.7 million yearling by Kennewell Racing along with Spendrift Australia at last year’s Inglis Easter Yearling Sale in Sydney.
“He’s a high class horse with a huge pedigree that we paid a bit of money for,” Kennewell said.
“We just felt that with the rain coming ahead of Saturday’s race that was a little hiccup heading to his first start.
“Next Saturday is a Group Three race and as a two-year-old, being a son of Deep Impact, if he can get off to a good start it will be good for his future.”
Kennewell said he would be guided by that performance, but suggested it may be Kazuhiko’s only outing as a two-year-old.
“He’s jumped out really well, in fact all his jump-outs have been terrific,” Kennewell said.
“I can’t fault him.”
Kennewell broke a long run of outs on Melbourne city tracks with the victory of Supre in the JRA Handicap at Caulfield on Saturday.
It was his first metropolitan success since Cosmic Rhapsody scored at The Valley last November.
“To be fair I haven’t had much going around and we’ve been pretty quiet,” Kennewell said.
“Hopefully it’s the start of something.”
Kennewell said Supre could join Kazuhiko for a trip to Adelaide to contest the Group Three R A Lee Stakes (1600m).
A five-year-old mare, Supre also broke a long winless streak and Kennewell said he would monitor the mare during the week before making a final decision.
“The one thing she lacks on her resume is black type over a mile,” Kennewell said.
“She’s a very well bred filly out of Avienus so she’d be worth a bit of money in the broodmare barn if she could get that win as well.
“She’s got to tick all the boxes during the week to go over, but she could be a good travelling companion for Kazuhiko.”
