King Blitz To Target Kalgoorlie
16 August, 2018
Thoroughbred
Trainer Barry Newnham has no doubt his patience with King Blitz is paying off and believes the bay gelding has the potential to develop into an above average horse.
At Belmont on Wednesday King Blitz did his best to live up to Newnham’s expectations when he won the PSC Insurance Handicap (1400m) by 2 ¼ lengths.
Defying a betting drift from $4.50 to $9.20, King Blitz raced away over the last 200m for jockey Peta Edwards and has now won twice from three starts.
Newham, based in Geraldton, predicts a bright future for King Blitz.
“If I could get his ratings up he is a horse that could suit Kalgoorlie and a race like the Hannans.
“But it’s the Kambalda Cup for me in late September.
“I want to test him a little bit rather than doing anything stupid.
“But he is a good horse who in time will get over ground.”
King Blitz is making up for lost time after making his race debut as a four-year-old when a fast finishing fourth to Colour Witness at Pinjarra last month.
“He couldn’t race any earlier because he was too small and had bad conformation,” Newnham said.
“But he is a strong horse now and hasn’t had a sore day since.
“That’s because we didn’t race him as a two and three-year-old.”
Edwards, who had King Blitz ideally placed on the fence in third position before angling out on straightening, won her second city race after partnering King Blitz three weeks ago.
Newnham heaped praise on Edwards and said she rode the perfect race on a horse that she was building a good association with.
“She rides him well and she rides anything well,” Newnham said.
“I think she is quite a good rider and has got plenty going for her.
“I think what Peta has going for her is she is very patient.
“I ride the horse in work a fair bit and I tell her how I think he should be ridden and that’s how she rides him.
“If the horse gets beaten it won’t be any fault of hers.”
A delighted Edwards, who recently returned to riding after a four year break, said she was thrilled by what lay ahead for King Blitz.
“He just tries so hard and gives you everything down the straight,” Edwards said.
“He is hardly under pressure at the moment and is quite exciting to look forward to.”
The $30,000 Kambalda Cup is run at Kalgoorlie on September 23. The winner of the 1400m race is exempt from the Hannans Handicap ballot.
Julio Santarelli