Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images)
Rider Matt Cameron’s love affair with one of the feature mile races at Trentham each year came to the fore once again when he guided consistent performer Khanshe (Mongolian Khan) to a stunning victory in the Gr.3 Ron Stanley Memorial Phar Lap Trophy (1600m) on Saturday.
Punters weren’t enamoured with his chances aboard the Fraser Auret-trained Khanshe, allowing the daughter of Mongolian Khan to start at $18 in the Fixed Odds market which was dominated by up and comers Ma Te Wa ($2.90) and Omega Boy ($5).
However, those who had followed the history of the race may have had an inkling Cameron was in line for victory as he was shooting for his fourth win in the event, formerly known as the Anniversary Handicap, having been successful aboard Glad in 2013, Abidewithme in 2014 and Seize The Moment in 2017.
While the two favourites were in the firing line during the early stages of the contest as both settled in the top six behind pacemaker Khafre, Cameron and Khanshe appeared to be in considerable trouble as they settled last of the 13 runners after being buffeted shortly after the jump.
Still last on the final bend, Cameron hooked Khanshe to the outside in the run home and began the chase after Omega Boy, Rusty Lane and Doctor Askar, who were fighting out the finish at the 200m.
With several huge bounds Khanshe joined the leaders and burst clear to head home Doctor Askar, who held out the fast-finishing Enrico for second.
Auret was delighted to see the patient approach he has taken with the mare beginning to pay off.
“It has been a bit of a slow burn with her, and it has taken some time, but she has always had a really good turn of foot,” Auret said.
“She has progressed really nicely as that was only her 16th start, so we have given her the time that she needs.
“She certainly had more work to do (during the race) than I was hoping for, but Matt summed it up nicely and she does like clear air.
“I think next year could be her year as while she won a stakes race as a three-year-old, she is a very fine boned and weaker type, so we are in no hurry with her.
“We don’t have any set plans as I wanted to get through today with her.”
Raced by the estate of her breeder Rick Orr, Khanshe is out of the unraced O’Reilly mare Folies Bergere, a daughter of stakes winning sprinter Dashing Donna who finished runner-up in the 2009 Gr.1 Railway Stakes (1200m).
A stakes winner during her three-year-old campaign, where she took out the Listed Oaks Prelude (1800m) at New Plymouth, Khanshe has now won five of her 16 starts and in excess of $223,000 in prizemoney.
