Knobelas carries Ascot colours to success

[Wandering Eyes]

Knobelas (NZ) (Belardo) has continued the winning form of OTI Racing with victory in a race at Sandown, hours after the colours were worn to success at Royal Ascot.

Docklands gave OTI Racing one of their biggest victories when successful in the opening race of the five-day Royal Ascot meeting, the Queen Anne Stakes over the straight mile course on Tuesday night (Australian time).

Knobelas won over a similar trip in the OTI Racing colours, taking out the Stow Storage Solutions Handicap (1600m) at Sandown on Wednesday.

Prepared by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, Knobelas, the $2.35 favourite, raced to a 3-¼ length win under Jordan Childs from All Business with Colour Our Word two lengths away third.

Knobelas may not reach the same Group 1 heights as Docklands, but there was plenty of merit in the victory, her second from three career starts.

“It was very similar to last time,” Kent Jnr said of Wednesday’s win.

“She got her own way in front and if you’ve got the tactical speed and you take it up and no one wants to take you on, you deserve that.

“She’s got a very good turn of foot. She sustained a solid gallop all-the-way when being up in grade, so that was quite impressive.

“She’s won by a big margin again and I know there is still a heap to come with her.

“It’s exciting.”

Kent Jnr said immaturity had stopped Knobelas from making her debut earlier, but added it was likely Knobelas would continue to race through the winter months.

“She’s a very sweet filly, very sound, does everything right,” Kent Jnr said.

“I just love her change up gear and that’s going to win you more races than not.

“I don’t think she needs to go further than the mile at the moment, so we’ll place her through winter and see if she can win again.

“The owners have been very patient, so if she is not training off and while she’s a three-year-old filly, Saturday class beckons.”

Kent Jnr said the Silver Bowl Series Final at Flemington on July 5 could be a potential next target.

Knobelas was previously trained in New Zealand by Simon and Katrina Alexander and was sold following a trial win at Te Awamutu.

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