Two runs at 1200m this preparation had been good but the drop back to 1100m and some luck in running allowed Kir Royale ($5) to take out Race 10 on the card, a benchmark 78 contest over Forzanini and Snapped.
Well backed race favourite Snapped was the talking point of the race, unable to find clear running in the straight, eventually finishing ¾ of a length off the winner.
Kir Royale’s past wins had come over 1200m, 1300m and 1400m but as usual, trainer Chris Waller found the right race for the progressive mare, something stable representative Damien Fitton is accustomed to.
“It was aided by a very good ride by John… she began well, there was actually more speed than anticipated on paper so she got a lovely run in transit and when he asked her to quicken she really dashed nicely,” Fitton said.
Whether the four-year-old will now step back up in trip will be left to Waller, but her ability to adapt to different distances is paying dividends.
“We were just tinkering with her race pattern at the moment, it looked a nice race for her today over the 1100 metre trip and I’m sure she will get back to 1400 metres in time so we’ll just gradually let her get there herself and she’s in for a good preparation,” Fitton said.
John Allen, who was in Sydney for the day with many top hoops in the Gold Coast, was happy to end the day with a winner after falling short on Steel City in the opener.
“She relaxed nicely, travelled into the race well, probably hit the front a little bit soon and was having a good look around late but she did enough to hold on,” Allen said.
“Ciaron (Maher) approached me about coming to ride the two-year-old (Steel City), unfortunately it got beaten but it ran very well. I was lucky enough to pick up a few other rides and it’s been a long day but I’ve managed to get one off,” Allen said.
