Racing: McKay weighs up options for handy colt

It might have been a narrow win by Joey Massino in Saturday's $85,000 Avondale Guineas, but it started Matamata part-owner and trainer Peter McKay thinking about a possible change of direction.

The talented horseman made a lot of money for himself, wife Kim and one of his owners, Cantabrian Trevor Luke, when he sold Alamosa as a stallion prospect - believed to be around $4 million-$5 million.

Saturday's victory has started McKay thinking along the same lines.

"I probably have to start aiming him along those tracks," said McKay after Joey Massino, by O'Reilly, the same sire as Alamosa, just nudged out Finderskeepers in the closing stages at Avondale.

"I'm not saying it's going to happen the same way as it did with the other horse, but I've got to give him his chance."

Because of that, McKay will almost certainly bypass the group two $100,000 Great Northern Guineas against Joey Massino's own age band at Ellerslie on Boxing Day and concentrate instead on the group one $200,000 Zabeel Classic.

"If he's to be a stallion prospect running one, two or three in a group one against the older horses will do more for his value than winning a group two against his own age."

A lot will depend on where Victoria Derby winner Monaco Consul heads in his lead-up to the Derby at Ellerslie in March.

Monaco Consul has returned from Melbourne to the Matamata stable of Paul Moroney and is being aimed at the Christmas carnival.

McKay has the greatest admiration for the horse's ability and is not kidding himself about how difficult he will be to beat.

"If Monaco Consul was to head to the Zabeel Classic, then I might look at switching Joey Massino to the Guineas."

The fact Joey Massino won by a narrow margin on Saturday is close enough to a plus for McKay.

"He's had three goes at the 1600m and each time he's looked like getting beaten then produced enough to hold the others off.

"On Saturday, he probably got headed twice and kicked back to win. At Riccarton the start before they dashed at him and two strides out he's found more."

McKay believes that style suggests Joey Massino will be an ideal 2000m prospect.

"It means he can cruise along at his own pretty high speed and kick back late."

It was not a bad run by Finderskeepers to finish second, given he had not previously tried the 1600m.

He has a touch of brilliance and Saturday's Guineas was not a race for brilliance. There will be races over the summer that suit him better.

Previously unbeaten Celtic Fantasy clung on well for third half a length away just ahead of Prairie Star, who looks a likely improver.