Kevin Myers completed a lucrative holiday weekend when he produced Sea King to give weight and a beating to jumping newcomer Just Got Home in the KS Browne Hurdle at Ellerslie on Queen’s Birthday Monday.
The Wanganui trainer is a part-owner of Saturday’s Australian Steeplechase hero Krase, a son of Ekraar he prepared to win three flat races, two steeplechases and once over the smaller fences before the gelding joined Patrick Payne’s Melbourne stable.
Sea King is the current star of Myers’ domestic hurdling team with previous successes in the Hawke’s Bay, Sydenham and Waikato Hurdles. He was also runner-up in his defence of the latter title before adding to his record at Ellerslie.
“He really jumped well (Monday), a lot better than he did at Te Rapa,” rider Mathew Gillies said.
Sea King was at the back of a tightly-bunched field 800 metres from home on Monday before he came through on the inner to lead on the turn.
He was hotly challenged by Just Got Home, who was in receipt of five kilos, after the final fence and the pair came together under pressure but Sea King stuck grimly to his task under 70kg for a half-length victory.
“The race panned out perfectly for me and we briefly touched, but there wasn’t much in it,” Gillies said.
Meanwhile, Real Treasure is likely to mix jumping and flat racing this winter following his success over the smaller fences in the Ellerslie Awards’ Day Maiden Hurdle.
“He had two hurdle races last year for two fourths after he got jammed in on the rails,” trainer Ann Browne said. “He’s a really good jumper, but I might give him another race or two on the flat now.”
A two-time winner from 10 starts in the latter role, Real Treasure measured his fences well throughout and was too good on the run in after challenging for the lead at the final flight.
“He’s got that ability on the flat and he’s still learning, he was a little bit weak last year,” rider Shaun Phelan said.
The hot favourite and runner-up El Soldado had every chance after enjoying an easy run in front for much of the race under Troy Harris.
– NZ Racing Desk
