Almanzor Trophy looming for King’s English

[Wandering Eyes]

A return to Ellerslie next week is on the cards for promising three-year-old King’s English following his win in the Elsdon Park 1200 at the Auckland track on Sunday.

The Snitzel colt has shown plenty of ability on the track, placing in his first two starts before breaking through for his maiden victory over 1150m at Te Aroha in November.

He was subsequently freshened by trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson and was backed into $2.50 for his resuming run over the weekend.

In the hands of New Zealand’s leading hoop, Craig Grylls, King’s English was beaten for early speed from his inside draw and settled midfield on the fence. Turning for home he had a wall of horses in front of him, but Grylls guided him into a gap out wide and he closed late to score a short neck victory over Confesara, with a further head back to Lubeck in third.

While the race wasn’t run to his initial plan, Grylls was pleased with the way his charge finished off the contest.

“I hoped to be handy like last time when he jumped with them, but he just didn’t hit the ground running today,” Grylls said. “So I was back there with them and he started looming into it to get a gap at the 200m and it was pretty exciting the way he jumped out of the ground inside the last 100m.

“I think the penny is only just starting to drop with him now, but he’s got any amount of ability. He’s going to be exciting for the future.”

Bergerson was pleased with the result and he is now looking forward to returning to Ellerslie next week with his colt to contest the Gr.3 Cambridge Stud Almanzor Trophy (1200m) on Karaka Millions night.

“He got back in a tricky spot, but fair play to the horse, he quickened when he needed to. It was a really patient ride by Gryllsy and he’s in fantastic form,” he said.

“The horse is getting better and better. He has taken a bit of time, with a few maturity issues early on, but is slowly putting it all together.

“The Almanzor Trophy seems the logical step as long as he comes through the race well. You would have to think he’d be a really strong chance off that win.”

Out of dual Group One winner English, King’s English was purchased by Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis out of Newhaven Park’s 2024 Inglis Australasian Easter Yearling Sale draft for A$700,000.

He has won two and placed in two of his four starts to date and has earned just shy of $50,000.

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