Successful jumps jockey and trainer Shaun Phelan was instrumental in Cambridge horsewoman Diana Kennedy securing Kajino (NZ) (Raise The Flag) and he’s continued to play a major role in the eight-year-old’s progression.
On his recommendation, Kennedy purchased the son of Raise The Flag privately from retiring trainer Ernie Griffiths and the gelding has proved to be a smart investment.
Kajino made a grand start to his jumping career last winter with a series of top performances fuelling plans for an Australian venture later this year.
“He’s a very good jumper and obviously by Raise The Flag he has taken a while to mature,” Phelan said.
“He’s not a very big horse, but sometimes the smaller ones make the better jumpers.”
The Warrnambool carnival in the first week of May is the target for the Kennedy-trained Kajino.
“There is a steeplechase at Pakenham before that and then he will have to trial twice around the Warrnambool course,” Phelan said.
“We’d definitely look at the Grand Annual Steeplechase (5500m, May 4) and there’s the Brierley Steeplechase (3450m) two days before that, a lot of them run in both.”
From seven starts over the smaller fences, Kajino has posted three wins and four placings, including runner-up finishes in the Great Northern Hurdle (4200m) and Hawke’s Bay Hurdle (3200m).
“He won his maiden at the start of the season and then went straight up against the good ones all the way through,” Phelan said.
He rode Kajino in his second win at Te Rapa and also in the Great Northern, after which Kennedy spelled the jumper with the trip to Victoria and the transition to steeplechasing in mind.
“He trialled well the other day and he did that before his last prep, he’s got a bit of flat form which is what they need really as they can go quickly over there,” Phelan said.
Kajino stepped out at Avondale last week to finish second in an open 1200m heat and is likely to run on the flat in New Zealand before crossing the Tasman.
Travel plans may also feature for a member of Phelan’s team in the promising three-year-old Humboldt, who will step out in Saturday’s Dunstan Horse Feeds Handicap (1600m) at Pukekohe.
The son of Sacred Falls is raced by a syndicate that includes prominent owner Tommy Heptinstall and former Group One-winning trainer Andrew Campbell.
Humboldt was an impressive debut winner at Tauranga last month and then finished sixth at Matamata.
“He got caught three wide the whole way last start and that wasn’t what we wanted. We’ve got Opie Bosson on him on Saturday and will get a line from him,” Phelan said.
“We’ll aim for the Manawatu Classic (Gr.3, 2000m) and then see if he’s worth taking to Adelaide or Brisbane for the Derbys, that’s what Tommy wants to do with him.”
Phelan will also be represented at Pukekohe by Ohiwa Sunset in the Ellerslie Event Centre Handicap (2100m), whose prospects will be boosted by any softening of the track.
Meanwhile, he is keeping his fingers crossed that stablemate Kahma Suitsya will gain a start in the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m).
The daughter of Tavistock broke her maiden over a middle distance at Hastings two runs back before she finished fifth at Otaki over 2100m.
“We’re hoping she can sneak into the Oaks, she hit the line well the other day,” Phelan said.
