Michael Kent Jnr is eagerly looking forward to next month’s South Australian Derby with Warmonger, after his close second placing behind Air Assault in the Port Adelaide Guineas (1800m) last Saturday.
The Mick Price and Kent Jnr-trained three-year-old gelding took significant ground from Air Assault over the last 200m at Morphettville, but fell short by a short half head.
“Warmonger was second-up in the Port Adelaide Guineas and Air Assault, who is a smart horse, was fourth-up and he had a cushy lead,” Kent Jnr said.
“I think our horse is the one to take out of the race.”
Last spring, Warmonger won the TAB Trophy (1800m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day at his third start, the race one that has been a stepping stone race for promising stayers over the years.
Two years ago, Price and Kent Jnr combined to win the South Australia Derby with Jungle Magnate and their plan is for Warmonger to follow the same path.
“The Chairman’s Stakes will be Warmonger’s next start although the difference this year is it’s a week before the South Australia Derby, not the two weeks it was when Jungle Magnate won,” he said.
The stable plans to tackle the same races with Tulsa King and Shinjuku.
“The three of them will contest the Chairman’s and we will leave them in Adelaide for the week to contest the South Australian Derby,” he said.
Tulsa King finished second to Smokin’ Princess over 1600m at Pakenham last Thursday.
“Tulsa King ran very well and was Michelle Payne’s good mare. He’s a promising stayer, as is Shinjuku,” Kent Jnr said.
“Shinjuku also has staying talent and he got double-barrelled at the barriers and was a late scratching from the Port Adelaide Guineas.”
