Racing: King Of Ashford in a different class

A slightly yielding track should work perfectly for Pretorius.

King Of Ashford and Pretorius hold the key to the $100,000 Hawkes Bay Cup at Hastings today.

There are a few punters seeming to shy away from King Of Ashford, perhaps waiting to see what he does in his first step up to 2200m in the top grade.

Trainer Karen Zimmerman is not one of them. "He'll love it," she confidently predicts.

The way King Of Ashford has relaxed waiting for the call to sprint, it's hard not to agree with her.

King Of Ashford represents class and his fifth at Awapuni last start, rather than being a poor effort, is what helps tip you towards the horse here.

After tailing the field, he was running on strongly to be not that far away from the fast-finishing winner Tusker.

Pretorius, in that same race, drops 3.5kg for this because of the handicap conditions. That is a lot of weight and the slightly yielding track should work perfectly for him.

Impressive Te Aroha winner Tachus (No1, R4) faces a tough task giving Wewantit (No3) 2.5kg because of Kelly Myer's apprentice allowance. Winning four on end is almost unheard of these days, but Wewantit showed something special when he muscled his way into the clear to win at Manawatu last start. He looks like he wants to win and knows how to.

The Matamata track yesterday was mid-range 3 on the rating and if it does not improve greatly then Mick Curtis (No4, R4) will be all the rage.

He got too far off them when he finished mid-field chasing Congrats around at Manawatu last start and a much better guide to his chances here was his remarkable finishing run at Tauranga the start before when he failed by only half a head to come from last and beat the talented Wilkies Paint. The track that day was close to heavy, where he struck a firm surface at Awapuni.

The more give in the track today the better his chances of getting the major money. Madamvizelle (No3) is the improver and another who will love the track conditions.

The betting on the juvenile race, Race 5, might be reasonably well spread. Tappy (No3) is worth a look on his home track from the inside barrier. He drew 12 of 13 on debut, covered a lot of extra ground and finished third to Alberto (No1), who will start close to favourite again. Because of Ryan Allwood's apprentice allowance, Tappy will meet the other horse 4.5kg better this time if no claim is put up for Alberto. No rider was posted on Thoroughbred Racing's website yesterday afternoon.

Roaring Jake (No1, R7) will be a big chance fresh from a break with Corey Parish claiming 3kg. But so will Sandcastle (No9), who will maintain the 3.5kg differential with Roaring Jack via Craig Gryll's similar 3kg drop. Sandcastle has been beaten twice since his remarkable 1:21.69 1400m victory on this track in February, but John Sargent has applied ear covers and they might just make the difference.

That was a tidy effort of Bedrock's to finish close behind Sir Sintillate at Te Aroha after settling well back as usual. She gets 3kg off this time and on her home track has some appeal. So does Multi Tasker (No6) who is worth another chance after getting little luck when resuming.

You're My Angel (No5, R9) has been showing promise as a stayer and looks the goods in the last.