A date with a special conditions race on the first day of the Hastings spring carnival is on the dance card for impressive Tauherenikau winner King Cougar.
The Mike Breslin trained four-year-old created a good impression when he raced to a seven-length maiden victory late last month and continued where he left off that day with another comprehensive performance on the weekend.
Handled astutely by Johnathan Parkes, the Alamosa gelding bounced smartly from a wide barrier to dispute the pace, albeit in a four-wide position throughout. Parkes didn’t panic as he sat quietly before easing his charge even wider on the point of the home turn. From there it was up to King Cougar’s rivals to chase him down, a task that proved beyond them as he held out all challenges to win nicely by just over a length at the line.
“He was pretty impressive on debut but I thought it was an even better display on Saturday,” noted Breslin
“He went up in class and weight and had to do it tough on the speed so to win like he did speaks volumes for his ability. Johnathan came back and said he had it under control all the way, with something still in hand, so it does augur well for his future.”
Breslin, who prepared the gelding’s mother Red Cougar for the same connections, has always had time for his charge despite having to delay his racetrack debut after he had been successful at the trials back in September last year.
“We knew he could gallop but he just didn’t train on after he won at the trials so I had to back off him to let him mature,” he explained.
“He has strengthened up nicely and is ready to go on with it. We never saw the best of his mother who was a very promising type but was plagued by bone-chips that ended her career.
“I think this guy has inherited all of her ability so it would be nice to think he could develop into a pretty handy horse.
“We have had the special conditions maiden on the first day at Hastings in mind for him so that’s where he will be going next. I had thought about taking him straight there after his maiden win but he’s still very green so this run will have taught him a little more and should have him spot on for the race.”
