KAHDON HEALTHY FOR VICTORIA OAKS START
Kahdon has settled in perfectly at Craig Demmler’s Parwan stables in preparation for the $A50,000 Dallas Building Victoria Trotting Oaks at Melton at 9.42pm (NZ time) on Friday, June 10.
New trainer Mark Jones says the Sundon filly hasn’t left an oat since arriving in Melbourne on Sunday afternoon.
“I jogged her on the lead on Monday and Tuesday, then worked her over two miles in 4.55 on Wednesday. Hopefully thats all she needs,” Mark said.
Kahdon didn’t require much work this week in view of her tough run for second to Vulcan in last Saturday’s Harness Jewels 3YO Ruby at Cambridge, then her trip across the Tasman.
She will start from two on the back row and Mark feels the extra distance, compared to last week’s Jewels, will suit.
The best of the Aussie fillies appears to be the Chris Lang-trained Good Thanks, a daughter of S J’s Photo, who has won 4 of her 7 career starts including a last-start win in the $A20,000 NSW Trotters Oaks at Harold Park on May 21.
Good Thanks led in the NSW Oaks and held Elusive Charm by 4.4 metres in a 2:05.8 rate for the 2160m, running her last 800m in 60.8s and final 400m in 29.6s.
She earlier rated 2:05 over 2180m to win a 3YO trot at Kilmore on April 23, and 2:06.5 over 2170m to win a 3YO trot at Cobram on April 12.
The field also features Landoras Pearl, a former stablemate of Kahdon when both were trained at Leeston by Paul Nairn.
Landoras Pearl, now trained by Graeme Lang, ran 6th behind Shezoneoftheboyz in the NZ Trot Derby at Addington on March 26 then was exported to Australia after running 11th in Emma Hamilton’s NZ Trot Oaks at Addington on April 9.
She ran 7th of 12 at her first Victorian start in The Holmfield at Tabcorp Park on June 4.
Landora’s Pearl starts from the inside of the back row.
Another Oaks contender of interest to Kiwis is Amelia Darling, a daughter of Kadabra and Africa, a dual Interdominion Trot Final runnerup for former Christchurch owner Trevor Casey.
Africa was the runnerup to Special Force in the 1999 Auckland Interdominion Trotting Grand Final, then the runnerup again 12 months later behind Lyell Creek in the $A500,000 Interdominion Trot Final at Moonee Valley, when driven by Ricky May.
Africa was trained for most of her NZ racing by Bruce Negus, but was trained for her Interdominion 2nds by Mark Purdon. She won 11 races and $226,243 in stakes in Australasia, then took a 1:56.6 mile mark in North America.
Amelia Darling, who also has a back row draw on Friday night, has won 4 of 23 starts for trainer Corry Van Ryn.
Kahdon will remain with Demmler after the Victorian Oaks until after the $A93,000 Breeders Crown Final on August 22, with Mark to return to drive her in the Australian features.
Mark intends to give her a decent break after the Breeders Crown with the Group Three First Sovereign Trust 4YO Trotters Championship at Addington in March-April her first target next term.