Kamakiri Enters Classic Picture
13.04.2005, 21:19
Kamakiri became the latest winner at the Newmarket Craven meeting to step into the Classic picture when taking the 32Red.com European Free Handicap after a thrilling tussle with favourite Obe Gold.
The 4-1 winner was always prominent under Ryan Moore and leading a furlong from the finish, stuck on well for firm driving to hold on by a short head.
Stetchworth Prince was ouptpaced going into the dip but was doing best at the finish to take third spot, three-quarters of a length behind the first two.
Receiving weight from his rivals, this was on the face of it an effort which leaves Kamakiri something to find against the best of his generation when he returns in two and a half weeks' time for the UltimatePoker.com 2000 Guineas - something reflected in bookmakers' quotes of 33-1 and 40-1.
But trainer Richard Hannon's son, Richard jnr, said: "He'll improve an awful lot for this run, probably 7 or 8lb at least, and although everybody will knock the form like they always do whenever we have a winner, I think he deserves his chance. He needed this badly.
"He'd been off for a long time before today, but we have always thought a bit of him."