Racing: Kind Return fit for return bout

Melbourne jockey Craig Williams has picked up the ride on classy race mare Kind Return in today's $200,000 City Of Auckland Cup at Ellerslie.

Kind Return confirmed her fitness for the 2400m event with a fighting last-start performance to finish second behind Bazelle in the Zabeel Classic at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.

The 5-year-old daughter of Zabeel has taken no harm from that outing according to Matamata-based trainer John Sargent.

"She pulled up as good as gold after the Zabeel Classic on Boxing Day and she has eaten up and looks in good order," said Sargent.

"The impressive thing about her last start was the fact that she settled so kindly in the field and she rounded out the race very well.

"We have Craig Williams on board this time and I'm sure he'll get her to relax and race in the field.

"The jump up in distance to 2400-metres will not worry this mare and she drops back in weight carrying conditions for this race.

"In the Zabeel Classic she was carrying 56 kilograms under the weight-for-age scale and in this race she drops back to 52 kgs.

"From barrier two I expect her to settle nice and handy to the pace and I'm certain she'll run out the race a lot stronger than most.

"We'll be taking on proven handicap horses like Kerry O'Reilly, Waitoki Dream and Zabeat plus the up-and-coming horses like All Square and Pretorius."

Kerry O'Reilly will start a warm favourite in this event after impressive back-to-back wins in the Counties and Waikato Cups.

However, the 5-year-old recorded a disappointing performance in the Zabeel Classic when he finished seventh behind Bazelle.

Kerry O'Reilly settled at the rear of the field in the 2000 metre event and made up ground solidly late out wide but had no chance catching the winner, who enjoyed a more prominent sit closer to the speed.

Kerry O'Reilly is too good a racehorse to dismiss after one failure and is capable of recording a form reversal in this event.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY