NEWCASTLE trainer Sam Kavanagh is on a roll and hoping it’s a case of “lightning strikes twice” in the $500,000 The Coast at Gosford’s stand-alone metropolitan meeting on Saturday.
Kavanagh, successful with two-year-old debutant Metallic Ruler at Muswellbrook last Friday and the talented import Wrathful at Rosehill Gardens a day later, was quick off the mark to book Jay Ford for his representative Kayobi in the feature race on the near $2m 10-race program.
“Jay won The Coast on Rustic Steel for Kris Lees last year, and will be able to ride Kayobi at his 52kg,” Kavanagh said this afternoon.
Ford, who has ridden nearly 1300 winners (including 11 Group 1s), was associated with the great sprinter Takeover Target both in Australia and overseas, and Saturday’s $200,000 feature sprint bears the now deceased champ’s name.
Kavanagh opted not to run Kayobi in a Benchmark 78 Handicap (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens last Saturday when rain continued to fall and the track deteriorated into the heavy range.
Instead, the classy four-year-old, who has won four of his seven starts, will have a searching gallop on the grass at Broadmeadow in the morning,
“He’ll need a good hitout and we’ll go from there to The Coast,” Kavanagh said.
“The forecast seems in our favour this week, so Gosford should present a track in great order on Saturday.”
Nineteen entries were received for The Coast, and Kayobi has been posted as an early $8 joint third favorite behind the Chris Waller pair Welwal ($4.50) and Thalassophile ($6).
Last year’s successful The Coast trainer Kris Lees has three nominations – Loch Eagle ($8), Bellatrix Black ($26) and Razeta ($11).
Bellatrix Black also holds an interstate entry for Saturday’s Group 2 wfa Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Sunshine Coast.
Wyong’s Sara Ryan is the other provincial trainer with a nomination for The Coast in Attractable ($26).
This will be the third running of The Coast, which was won in its inaugural year in 2021 by the John Sargent-trained Brandenburg, ridden by Regan Bayliss.
Kavanagh meanwhile is looking to chase further wins with both Wrathful and Metallic Ruler on Saturday week – but at different venues.
Wrathful will go to the Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1700m) at the Scone metropolitan stand-alone meeting, whilst Muswellbrook Star Kingdom Stakes winner Metallic Ruler heads north for the $300,000 Group 2 Spirit Of Boom 2YO Classic (1200m) at Doomben.
“They’re both very nice horses,” Kavanagh said.
Gosford received 216 entries for Saturday’s meeting, with 27 in the Listed $250,000 Gosford Gold Cup (2100m) and 21 in the Listed Takeover Target Stakes (1200m).
Impressive Hawkesbury Gold Cup winner New Mandate is the early $3.50 favorite for the Cup, and the very promising Think About It, who has been beaten only once in seven starts, is a dominant $2.50 favorite for the Takeover Target.
Entries for only one race – the 3 and 4YO Benchmark 72 Handicap (1600m) – have been extended until 11am tomorrow.
Provincial trainers with entries for the three feature races at Gosford are:
THE COAST (1600m)
Sara Ryan (Attractable)
Kris Lees (Bellatrix Black, Loch Eagle, Razeta);
Sam Kavanagh (Kayobi).
GOSFORD GOLD CUP (2100m)
Kris Less (Protagonist);
Brett Lazzarini (Wild Chap).
TAKEOVER TARGET STAKES (1200m);
Kylie Gavenlock (Audette);
Kim Waugh (Bethencourt);
Kris Lees (Night Of Romance).
*Words John Curtis May 1 - Pics Bradley Photos*
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