First runner for The King

[Wandering Eyes]

Regally-bred stallion The King (NZ) (O’Reilly) will have his first runner at Ascot Park on Wednesday when The Queen (NZ) makes her debut in the Invercargill Licensing Trust Maiden (1200m) for trainer Robert Dennis.

“She is the first runner for the Dennis Brothers’ stallion The King,” Dennis said.

“He is a full-brother to The Jewel. My cousin Chris stands him at stud and does all the work so it will be an exciting moment for him and the family on Wednesday.”

While he placed in just one of his seven starts on the track, The King hails from a strong lineage in the south which includes his sister, dual Group One winner and New Zealand Champion Three-Year-Old of her Year The Jewel (NZ) (O’Reilly).

The Jewel has gone on to leave her mark as a broodmare, being the dam of up-and-coming stallion The Bold One, who stands at Grangewilliam Stud near Wanganui, and grandam of top stayer The Chosen One (NZ) (Savabeel).

Dennis believes The Queen has inherited the family ability and is excited to see what the four-year-old mare can do on raceday.

“She had three jumpouts as a three-year-old and she got better with each one but just needed a little bit of time, like the Dennis Brothers horses do,” he said.

“She has had one jump out this prep and she was quite good in it so I would expect a reasonably bold run as long as it is not too wet.”

The Queen has drawn barrier 18 on Wednesday and Dennis said they still might be positive out of the gates with her.

“It is not ideal but we will just see how it plays out, she might look to roll forward anyway,” he said.

Dennis has a handful of other runners competing on the nine-race card including The Ace (NZ) (Pins) in the ILT Foundation Handicap (1400mm), Choux In (NZ) (Jimmy Choux) in the Speight’s Handicap (1200m), Heidi Hi (NZ) (Roc De Cambes) in the Christmas At The Races Sat 11 Dec Handicap (1200m), Pinx (NZ) (Per Incanto) in the McCallums Group Maiden (1600m), and Zirka (NZ) (The Bold One) in the McKinght and Brown (1400m).

“Hopefully it’s not too wet for Choux In otherwise she has the right draw (2) to be competitive and hopefully be there in the finish,” Dennis said.

“Heidi Hi had a bit of a hiccup last season and wasn’t 100 percent, but she looks to have come back better this season and it looks like she is going the right way.

“I don’t think we are anywhere near the bottom of Pinx. She is slowly getting better bit by bit with each start. We have got the blinkers off her this time. She still needs to learn a bit but I think the main thing she needs to learn is to put in 100 percent.

“The jury is out on Zirka, it could be her last chance on Wednesday, and The Ace has come up really well, but he dropped the rider and was late scratched on Melbourne Cup Day.”

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