Racing: King Of Ashford off to Australia

Karen Zimmerman

Otaki trainer Karen Zimmerman has firmed up plans to race smart metric miler and stayer King Of Ashford in Melbourne this spring.

Zimmerman said King Of Ashford would have one lead-up race in New Zealand before leaving for Melbourne, according to New Zealand Thoroughbred Marketing.

The New Zealand race would be the group three Merial Metric Mile (1600m) at Awapuni, Palmerston North, in September.

Zimmerman said King Of Ashford's first Melbourne outing would probably be in an open class 1700m event at Caulfield on October 7.

King Of Ashford's first major spring assignment in Melbourne would be the group one A$500,000 ($617,000) Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on November 4, followed a fortnight later by the group one A$400,000 Sandown Classic (2400m).

Zimmerman went close in the Sandown Classic in 2001 with Cinder Bella, who finished third.

King Of Ashford has not raced since winning the $100,000 Hawkes Bay Cup (2200m) at Hastings on April 22 but Zimmerman said the His Royal Highness 5-year-old gelding looked well.

Zimmerman has not finalised a rider for Melbourne but New Zealand's Lisa Cropp and Melbourne's Craig Newitt are being considered.

- NZPA