KEY POINTS:
Colin Fache had little time to celebrate Kenadaad's victory in the $100,000 Opunake Cup at New Plymouth yesterday because all he wanted to do was "get back on the road home" to Te Aroha.
Kenadaad debuted from Fache's stable in January after previously being with Lance O'Sullivan and Andrew Scott in Matamata.
The 5-year-old has thrived on the switch of scenery scoring five wins for Fache, the latest an impressive home stretch sprint to win the listed event in the hands of Troy Harris.
Kenadaad enjoyed a dream sit behind the pace-setting Wakefield and effortlessly lengthened stride to win by two lengths over the solid finishing Zamfir with a further 1 1/4 lengths back to Floydeboy (third).
"I've done one or two things differently with Kenadaad since he arrived at my place and doing a bit of swimming has helped with the improvement in form," said Fache.
"The last-start run at Te Awamutu when finishing second behind Bellevue Lass sharpened him nicely.
"I've never taken a horse to Christchurch to race before but that's the intention as we're heading down for next month's Winter Cup."
Fache was well-satisfied with the victory as he was "born and bred in Taranaki" before moving to Te Aroha four years ago.
With nine wins from 17 starts racing left-handed, Kenadaad will be hard to beat in the Winter Cup, at Riccarton on August 4.
The favourite, Don't Ya Lovett, was never comfortable settling at the rear of the field and failed to finish. Don't Ya Lovett suffered his second bleeding attack and will not race in New Zealand again.
Murray Baker has quietly gone about "business" this season doing what he enjoys - developing winning racehorses.
Who's Asking gave the Cambridge-based trainer win number 45 for the season at New Plymouth.
The 3-year-old sat on the pace throughout the $40,000 New Zealand Bloodstock-sponsored event and fought gallantly to withstand the powerful finishing burst of Shariat's On Fire to win by a nose.
A further long neck away in third posiiton was Nutz About You.
Who's Asking has been handled in typically patient fashion by Baker, scoring two wins and three minor placings from eight starts. He will develop into an exciting racehorse in a further 12 months, a belief Baker has in stablemate Material Girl, who finished sixth in the same event.
