Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)
Marton trainer Fraser Auret sure knows how to cram a bit into his weekend.
The Central Districts horseman celebrated a well-deserved Group Two victory at Te Rapa on Saturday when Khanshe (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) won the Travis Stakes (2000m) in impressive fashion.
He then unleashed maiden winner Unusual Cortez (NZ) (Unusual Suspect) and progressive galloper Unusual Invader (NZ) (Unusual Suspect) who both won at Waipukurau on Sunday.
Like one of his prized equine athletes, Auret timed his run to perfection to make it home on Sunday night with minutes to spare to see Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress), a horse he’d bred and previously trained, once again smash the Hong Kong track record and his opposition when winning the Gr.1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) at Sha Tin.
“It’s been a good weekend but there’s been a bit going on,” Auret said.
“I felt like Khanshe really did deserve to win a race like the Travis. She lends herself to be a bit unlucky on occasions because she does always tend to get back, but she puts in some terrific sectionals late and is exciting to watch.”
Auret said it had been a slow burn with the Mongolian Khan five-year-old, who still has plenty of upside over the coming seasons.
“She's always shown glimpses of her true ability, and she won the Oaks Prelude (Listed, 1800m) as a three-year-old,” he said.
“We have spaced her races and looked after her and let her improve season on season.
Photo: Race Images (Peter Rubery)
Khanshe has gone for a break following her Te Rapa success, having previously finished a luckless fourth in the Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m).
“She's definitely heading out now for a break,” Auret said. “It's been a great campaign, and she seems to have furnished and come of age this prep and we couldn't be prouder.
“She's carrying a lot more condition and muscle mass now, which has allowed her to be more consistently putting up those top performances.”
While Auret was at pains to single a target race next campaign, he said there were plenty of positives from Saturday’s triumph.
“She's won a Listed race, a Group Three and a Group Two, so there's only one missing on the mantlepiece,” Auret said.
“The good thing is she's ticked that 2000m box now. Not only was it a wonderful win, but we actually learned a lot from the run. That's going to open so many more doors for her as there are some great weight-for-age races at 2000m in New Zealand.
“We know that she can run a sharp mile so there's no set plans at this stage. If anything, we might miss the early spring. It is quite hard getting those top horses ready down here for the early spring. It can be very wet. She's heading out for an eight-week break now and then we'll keep all the options on the table.”
Patience has also been the key with four-year-old mare Unusual Invader, who won her second race over a mile at Waipukurau on Sunday.
“I certainly think she has black-type in her future, she's got good stamina, so I can see her developing into a nice middle-distance horse and potentially even further,” he said.
“She's a half-sister to Platinum Invader, who was a very good two-mile horse and the way she relaxes, I think the world's her oyster really.
“She hadn't raced with a lot of luck this campaign, but she's shown some good ability. She too has headed straight out to the paddock, but I am looking forward to what she might do in the spring.
“She also did her part because she swabbed very quickly after the win which helped because we only got home with about four minutes to spare to watch Ka Ying Rising in Hong Kong.”
Photo: Hong Kong Jockey Club
Incredibly, the son of Shamexpress is the first horse Auret and his wife Erin have bred, and it is fair to say they won’t be breeding a better one.
The nine-time Group One winner secured a record-extending 20th consecutive win on Sunday, again lowering his own 1200m Sha Tin turf course record to 1m 07.10s in the HK$24 million Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m), returning a peak local rating of 142 and a Timeform Rating of 137.
“The thing is with most horses you talk about a peak performance of their prep. But with him he seems to go so close, if not beat his own record almost every start,” Auret said.
“It's just incredible. We're absolutely loving the ride, incredibly proud and the family loves nothing more than to cheer ‘rocket’ home.”
While Ka Ying Rising’s dam Missy Moo unfortunately had to be euthanised after just two foals after suffering from arthritis in her hind leg, Auret’s foray into breeding has swelled somewhat.
“We’ve got six mares now. We went from one mare to six pretty quickly,” he said. “I have said a few times maybe I should have quit while I’m ahead, but in all seriousness, it is a lot of fun and we can only keep trying.”
Although he would be forgiven for wanting a few hours on the couch, Auret clocked some more miles on Tuesday when sending four horses to the trials at the newly renovated Hastings track and the affable horseman was pleased he made the effort.
“The track was just magnificent,” he said. “I think that it's so pivotal to the Central District's operation, that track.
“There's been an incredible amount of rain in the region, and it played beautifully all day. It just once again confirmed that strategically, it is a massive venue for the Central Districts and a very important one, certainly for those early spring races.”
