The prospect of a soft track and the benefit of one run since arriving in Australia looks a good formula for Ciaron Maher import Kings Valley to notch his first local win at Canterbury on Wednesday.
The colt, who only turned three by birthdate just over a month ago, faces a very different set up to his first outing two weeks ago when he was dictated to by the outside gate at the tricky 1550m starting point.
Trainer Ciaron Maher, pictured with Alakahan at Warrnambool on Tuesday, has import Kings Valley running at Canterbury on Wednesday.Credit: Getty
In the Cylinder @ Darley Handicap (1550m) at Canterbury on Wednesday he’ll jump from gate three, which should allow jockey Tommy Berry the chance to position him that little bit closer to the likely leader, stablemate Kotaishi, than he was in his last assignment.
After looking under pressure coming to the turn and hitting something of a flat spot, or so it appeared, he rallied to pick up some ground and run third.
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With that run under his belt, and some appealing soft track credentials overseas, there’s every chance Kings Valley can find a couple of lengths. If that’s the case, he’ll loom large as they go for home in the straight.
One of the more interesting runners at Canterbury will be the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott two-year-old filly Clean Energy who makes her debut in the Robrick Lodge Handicap (1100m).
A $2.6 million yearling purchase, the youngster is a full sister of group 1 winner Sunlight and she’s shown plenty of ability in her own right in her two trial wins this time in work.
The challenge for jockey Adam Hyeronimus, who was on board in both those trials, is to negotiate the near outside alley in a field of no more than 14.
