Connections hoping the force is with them at Trentham

[Wandering Eyes]

Full Force will contest the Group 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Trentham on Saturday. Photo: Race Images Palmerston North

Full Force fitted a formula that vendor Kilgravin Lodge has previously enjoyed racing success with and that process could take them to the highest level this weekend.

Eion and Megan Kemp’s Matamata operation retained an interest in the Johno Benner and Hollie Wynyard-trained youngster, who will take aim at the Group 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Trentham on Saturday.

“We bought him as a weanling and then reoffered him as a yearling at Karaka. He was originally passed in and Johno rang me later and we got a deal done,” Eion Kemp said.

“We kept a piece of him and he’s really gone on and done the job, we’ve been rapt with the results. We do stay in a few if we really like the horse, especially if they look like being an earlier type.

“People support us and we’re quite happy to reciprocate in some way.”

Originally secured for A$70,000 at the Inglis Sydney Weanling Sale, Full Force has posted a win and three placings, including a third in the Listed Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), from his five appearances.

“He was straightforward and pretty settled right from day one, great-natured and good to have around,” Kemp said.

Full Force heads to Trentham off the back of a commanding victory last month and has thrived since.

“He’s absolutely flying, we’re very happy with him and his win the other day was really dominant and he deserves to have a go at this race,” Benner said.

“He hasn’t really put a foot wrong this season and you probably have to forgive his run (two starts ago) at Matamata.

“He didn’t get clear running after he got back into a horrible spot and Michael (McNab) was pretty kind on him late.

“We put that behind us and he justified his short price at Otaki. The horse (Sergeant Major) he beat there came out and won at Wellington and they’re racing about him so the form around him is good.”

The stable will also have two runners at Wanganui on Friday with Titled and O’Riordan to contest the Palamountains Animal Nutrition Handicap (2040m).

“It looks a very winnable race for either of them really, there is a little bit of quality in there and Field Of Gold won a Waikato Guineas (Group 2, 2000m),” Benner said.

“It’s not going to be any walk over but Titled has been stakes placed twice and he’s very, very well and so is O’Riordan so we think they will run well.

“They are hard to split them, O’Riordan has been up for a little while and we’ll probably see the best of her as a five-year-old.

“I would probably lean toward Titled, if he brings his A-game then he’s the horse to beat.”

Titled was a winner two runs back at New Plymouth and then finished runner-up in the Masterton Cup (2000m) while O’Riordan ran fourth at Tauherenikau before an unplaced effort in the New Zealand St Leger (2600m).

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