By Heather Anderson
Kawi (NZ) (Savabeel {Aus}), the winner of the first two legs of the Hawkes Bay Triple Crown, is a notable absentee from round three–the 2040-metre oversubscribed G1 Livamol Classic–as he pursues Australian targets across the Tasman, but more than a few of his vanquished rivals will attempt to earn Group 1 glory for themselves at Hastings Saturday.
China Horse Club's MGSW Mime (NZ) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), who was only a long head behind the Savabeel gelding in the Sept. 17 G1 Windsor Park Plate after moving too soon, is reported to be in fine fettle returning from her first Group 1 placing. A brave fourth in the 2400-metre Mar. 19 G1 New Zealand Oaks, the grey filly will only haul 121 pounds–a weight she shares with her Oaks conqueror Fanatic (NZ) (Shocking {Aus}), who got up on a disqualification at Trentham that day.
“She's flying and in the right form to be a big threat on Saturday,” pilot Michael Coleman told Racing and Sports. “She seems to have come up really well and felt really bouncy on the second day. I think she would probably be okay on a Slow 7.”
Sir Peter Vela's GSW Rasa Lila (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) won a duo of barrier trials returning in the spring and was ultimately unlucky after making a sustained run to take third in the Windsor Park Plate. One of the more lightly weighted at 125 pounds Saturday, the bay was one position ahead of G1 Sothys 43rd New Zealand 2000 Guineas bridesmaid Battle Time (NZ) (Battle Paint), with G1 Makfi Challenge S. runner-up El Pescado (NZ) (El Hermano {NZ} fifth Sept. 17. Two-time Group 1 winner Julinsky Prince (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) finished solidly to be sixth, beaten less than two lengths. Italian highweight Willie Cazals (Ire) (Aussie Rules), who finished second to the talented world traveler Flintshire (GB) (Dansili {GB}) in the 2014 G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase, is looking to get back on track at a distance more to his liking and enters on the back of a third-place effort in the 1600-metre Listed Haunui Farm Karaka Classic in heavy going Sept. 18.
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