Knobelas primed for Flemington revenge

[Wandering Eyes]

Knobelas (NZ) (Belardo) gets another crack at Roadcone (NZ) (Almanzor) this Saturday and Michael Kent Jnr is adamant the setting for the rematch is advantageous for his charge.

The pair will clash in the $130,000 Henry Byron Moore BM84 Handicap at Flemington.

The 1600-metre event will be run three weeks after their stoush over 1500m on the Caulfield Heath track, which Roadcone won narrowly after pinching a break turning for home, and Kent is confident Knobelas can gain revenge.

“She’s obviously very progressive; six starts for three wins and three seconds and one more stride and she gobbles up Roadcone last time,” Kent, who trains Knobelas in partnership with Mick Price, said.

“Naturally we’re looking forward to the big spacious track of Flemington versus Caulfield Heath, which probably undid her a bit last time.

“She looks to be a really nice horse for the future and third-up on Saturday, we should be close to our peak fitness.”

Knobelas’ Caulfield Heath effort followed a dominant first-up win over 1400m in benchmark 70 grade at Pakenham, which was her first start since finishing second in the Silver Bowl Final (1600m) at Flemington on July 5.

The daughter of Belardo, who will be ridden by Beau Mertens, meets Roadcone 1.5kg better for the last-start defeat and will start from barrier two with Roadcone to spring from gate nine.

Also engaged are in-form duo Sneaky Sunrise (The Autumn Sun) and Hiyaam Proud (Pride of Dubai), along with Knobelas’ former stablemate Angland (NZ) (Ace High).

Kent is excited about seeing the four-year-old back out to 1600m and would like to think this preparation is a stepping stone to bigger things.

“She’s a no-frills horse and gives you no feel at home – I’ve often said it, she’s probably one of the worst trackworkers at home – but you don’t judge how she’s going off a trackwork form,” Kent said.

“I don’t think she’s ever won a trial, but she just goes to raceday and when you ask her to quicken, she just goes, vroom, and just launches.

“She’s very progressive. We’ve got to be optimistic that we can get some Black Type with her at some point, because she does have such a good record and has got a lot of traits that make a Black Type mare.

“She’s got tactical speed, she travels well, relaxes, and then she’s got a big turn of foot at the end.”

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