Racing: Trainer excited about The King

Wingatui trainer Steven Anderton with The Diamond One, the winner of four races last season,...
Wingatui trainer Steven Anderton with The Diamond One, the winner of four races last season, including the group 3 White Robe Lodge Handicap. Photo by Matt Smith.
LAST SEASON
60 starts, 12 wins, $311,413

Steven Anderton: ''I was happy enough with the season. The mares stepped up and did the job. I won a couple of nice races I wanted to win.

"The other ones did OK - just bread-and-butter horses. Hexie Hao was a good bonus. I think he might be the ideal country cups horse.

"He's obviously down here for a reason but, if placed right, he can go on with it. He's obviously enjoying it.''

 

THIS SEASON

''I've got 13 in work at the moment with another three to come at the end of September. I try to keep it to around 13 or 14; it's manageable for me.

"It's about the same [in quality]. I've got a couple of ex-North Islanders - one's won one and one's won two.

"Movida [one win] is from Gareth McRae's and the other's called Typhoon. He's won a couple.''

 

DEPARTURES

''The Glitzy One [retired]. They're yet to decide where they're going - they possibly were thinking Ocean Park.

"I lost Miss Three Stars. I had her early on but she didn't come back to me [she is now with Tommy Beckett]. I quite liked her but you get that - it's racing.''

 

3YR-OLDS TO WATCH

''A horse called The King - he starts out on Friday at Ashburton. He's a full brother to The Jewel [out of The Grin] and he's a nice colt. He will be better after Christmas.

"He's quite a big mature sort of horse. We're hoping he can maybe do a wee bit this time around. He does show me a wee bit. I'm quite excited by him. Eventually he'll develop into being a stayer, but he'll get a really nice mile.''

 

2YR-OLDS TO WATCH

''I had a lot of 2yr-olds that I played around with in the winter time but no real 2yr-olds as such.''

 

HORSE TO FOLLOW

''I'll leave The Solitaire and that because they're class horses, but I'll say The King. I think he could develop into a nice horse. The Grin has been a good broodmare - she's left The Jewel, Star Affair, The One, The Prince, The Grinner.

"[The Dennis brothers] didn't take him to the sales because he's a wee bit offset in one knee but they were quite keen to keep him.''

 

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