By Ray Hickson
Everything about How’s It Kev’s preparation for the $150,000 Newhaven Park Central Districts Country Championships (1400m) at Mudgee on Sunday has gone exactly to trainer Alison Smith’s liking.
It’s a stark contrast to 12 months ago. Smith threw the gelding in as a late entry for the race and he finished fourth behind Zoo Station then, when the first two home in the Mudgee race were ruled out, gained a late call-up to contest the final at Randwick, where he ran a gallant fifth as a $151 chance from the outside barrier.
How’s It Kev (left) runs third in a Highway at Rosehill on January 28.Credit:Getty
What happened in 2022 tells Smith that the five-year-old is more than good enough to make it to Royal Randwick again on April 1 but this time on his own merits.
“His prep’s been pretty good. We targeted this race after the final last year,” Smith said.
“He ran really well in the final and he’s a lot more seasoned going into this race. We were pretty stoked considering the horse was supposed to be in the paddock.
He had a muscle problem and we weren’t doing a lot of serious work with him going into the final, so we were over the moon with him.”
The gelding has only had three starts since his Country Championships Final appearance in 2022 and Smith said the build-up has been ideal.
He was a second-up winner under 60kg a month ago with apprentice William Stanley riding, then had his final hitout in a 1500m TAB Highway at Rosehill three weeks ago, finishing sixth behind Eastern Glow.
“I thought his run was good. We opted to go to that race because it was 1500m. He has a trip on the float and I thought he’d get more benefit out of that race than the 1300m at Dubbo I had him accepted for,” she said.
“He’s pulled up really well, he’s done everything right and drawn a nice gate.
“I think the race is pretty open. A couple of the better chances have drawn wider and are going to have to be used up a bit to find a possie or go forward.”
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Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
