King Sees Silver Lining From Past Three Months
The current coronavirus pandemic has altered how many people go about their daily routine.
For trainer Peter King it has opened up the opportunity for Group 1 glory.
King was able to work from home in his current role at Alcoa when the pandemic hit Australia, which allowed him the opportunity to take up the training duties for three-year-old Longreach Bay.
King bred the son of Renaissance Man, together with his wife Barbara Pellick and son Michael, who will line up in Friday night’s Westbred 3YO Classic for the colts and geldings.
Longreach Bay is out of Armbro Operative mare Back In The Black, who provided King his path into Harness Racing as an owner.
Longreach Bay stormed into contention for Friday’s $100,000 event by taking out last week’s Westsired 3YO Pace for the colts and geldings.
King, who has worked at Alcoa for 25 years, said he may never have got the chance to train Longreach Bay had it not been for the changes to his work life.
“When COVID came along it allowed me to work from home,” he told RWWA Harness.
“I can log on and work early in the morning then when it gets to 2.30 in the afternoon I can go and work the horse and always log back on to work later if I have to.
“Over the years my wife has been swimming and I’ve been too busy with work to train.
“For me COVID has actually been a godsend.”
Longreach Bay started his career in the care of Gary Elson, before he returned to racing in January for Shane Young.
King has overseen the gelding’s past three starts and has won his past two.
King entered Friday’s $20,000 event pessimistic about Longreach Bay’s prospects from barrier one, given he had issues scoring up previously, but was impressed with how he performed with Maddison Brown in the sulky.
“It was a little bit of a surprise that he won,” King said.
“To be honest, I thought he could lead and win but it was very much up to the horse because he had issues with his gate manners previously.
“Luckily this preparation he has been behaving himself and he did the right thing on Friday night.
“We know he’s got gate speed and Maddi hit the button at the right time.
“He came out well and a lot depended on the last 200m of the race if he would see it out.”
Longreach Bay is a half-brother to Cott Beach, the winner of the 2017 Westbred 2YO Classic for the fillies, who Elson trained and King and Pellick owned.
King said Longreach Bay had more gate speed than Cott Beach and that could play into his favour come Friday night.
“If he draws between one and six he can give it a good shake,” he said.
“He pulled up a treat from last Friday and I think there’s some improvement there.
“He can run a cheeky race with the right draw.”
King has plenty to look forward to after Friday night with Back In The Black in foal to 2017 Inter Dominion champion Lazarus, while Cott Beach is in foal to Ultimate Machete.
Tim Walker
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