KANE HITS THEM FOR SIX

It might have taken awhile to arrive, but the manner of win by Kane (5 m Darci Brahma – Dream Lass, by Dream Well) suggested she is just warming up.

Kane won the $10,000 Avondale Maiden 1600 metres on Friday at Avondale, returning $8.50 & $2.85 fixed and $8.00 & $2.70 on the tote.

Owners Dave Curran, Paul Fisher, and the John Newman Family Trust always knew they had a horse capable of winning, and have put the returns of five second placed finishes in their pockets, but a victory on the board is the sweetest result.

A trial winner before racing and consistent through her first campaign, Kane finished second to smart gallop Rikki Tikki Tavi (Tavistock) last Autumn, and been fifth or closer in 14 of her 18 starts.

After finishing second at her previous outing, in the Maiden 2000 metres on 1 February at Hastings, she had a foot abscess and trainers Mike Moroney and Pam Gerard wisely scratched because of a wide draw through the week at Te Teko.

After stable-mate Saffron Lady (Iffraaj) had stormed home from last to finish second in the previous race on the programme, the Rating 70 1600 metres, similar tactics were adopted by Jake Bayliss aboard Kane. With the benefit of rain-affected footing that worsened two points during the day to Dead6, and a competitive pace, Kane commenced a wide run from last of the 12 runners at the 600m and when Bayliss cut her loose wide on the track she sailed past her rivals to win going away by two and a half lengths.

Despite the downgraded going, Kane ran a very respectable 1.36.3 for the mile.

Commentator Bruce Sherwin said: “She deserved it well before now, but breaks through”.

Gerard had given Bayliss no firm instructions, rather to “just let her come out of the gates and settle where she wanted”.

“We know she’s got a pretty quick turn of foot and hadn’t envisaged being back that far, but they had been going crazy in front and after Saffron Lady’s race it was a good spot to be,” she said.

“She goes well, is so honest, and it has been frustrating. She’s often met one better, but never stops trying and it was good to see her drop the bit today. Jake said that if she continues to do that she’ll win more races and that maybe the run over 2000 metres did her the world of good. It just allowed her to chill out a bit more, rather than be scrubbed along.

“John (Newman) breeds a lot of horses and she’s from a very good old family of his and a half to Dreamcrafter (Mastercraftsman) who has won twice for us and finished second in the Suline Vase (Gr. 3, 2100m).

“John and Dave (Curran) had been at the cricket (NZ v England test at Eden Park) and jumped on the train to watch the race. They were going to go back to the cricket, but I think they went to the casino instead.”

Kane was strapped by Pavin Kumar.