Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)
Matt Cameron says Khanshe (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) is ready to challenge for Group One honours following her last-to-first victory in the Gr.2 Gartshore Tauranga Stakes (1600m) on Saturday.
On a day when horses were finding it difficult to come from off the pace, the Fraser Auret-trained mare put up an outstanding effort at Tauranga. She ran her last 600m under Cameron in 35.42 seconds – at least 0.45 seconds quicker than any of her rivals – to win by 1 1/2 lengths in 1:34.87 seconds, clearly the fastest 1600m race of the day.
In doing so she rewarded punters who backed her at $13.30 after she had no luck in her seasonal debut, the Gr.3 Timberspan Spring Sprint (1400m) at Hastings on October 10.
“I’m just glad she was able to put a line through the Hastings race. She got checked and blocked out in the straight and it was pretty much a canter around really,” Cameron said.
“Fraser’s done a great job with her. It was a pretty good effort to come back from that and to go a mile on that kind of track. It was a big day for her.”
Khanshe had one attempt at Group One level last season, finishing fourth in the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) for fillies and mares at Trentham. She was again the fastest over the last 600m that day and was the only horse to make significant ground from the rear in a slowly-run race.
Cameron said he understood Khanshe was set to take on the top level from here, in the Gr.1 TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m) at Trentham on December 5 and then possibly the Gr.1 Zabeel Classic (2000m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.
“Getting a Group One victory this season would be great, and I think I’ve got the right horse to do it in Khanshe,” he said.
“I think she’s come to the level now where she can match it with the true weight-for-age horses. She’s proven she can sustain a good run and her times are good.
“She loves Trentham, and though it will be a good field, the way she races there she’ll be a good chance.”
Khanshe’s victory last April in the Gr.2 Travis Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa highlighted her ability to stay the Zabeel Classic trip, and yesterday’s victory put to bed another doubt her connections might have had about that race.
“Yesterday was her first time right-handed,” Cameron said.
“She’s got a little bit stronger this year and she’s obviously won that Group Two over 2000m at Te Rapa. Now that she’s proven she can go the Ellerslie way around, a couple of those targets over 2000m at Ellerslie are there for her.”
Khanshe’s victory came despite the fact Cameron had to ride her quite vigorously from about the 800m mark.
“You always have to encourage her to get her going, and she was on the wrong leg coming across the top, so it made going forward a little bit trickier,” he said.
“But she managed to get through that time and once she got balanced up in the straight, she won easily, ears pricked.
“It’s quite a tight, turning track from the 800 to the top of the straight at Tauranga, which doesn’t help her. She’s a bit better on those roomier tracks like Trentham.”
The victory capped off a purple patch of form for Cameron. He rode Knight Guru to win the last on the second day of the New Zealand Cup carnival on Wednesday and followed that with a treble at Te Aroha on Thursday aboard Rhaena, Latino, and Victorious Warrior.
“The season started off alright and then there was a bit of a slow patch, but it’s been a good week to get some momentum. That’s racing, you have ups and downs, but I feel good and it’s always good to get winners, no matter what they are, to build that confidence and momentum,” Cameron said.
“It’s come at the right time of year, coming into the Christmas period, so if I can just keep going and tick away, hopefully there will be a few more decent rides in some of these decent races.”
