Xanadu is at $3.80 in the TAB fixed dividend market for the $300,000 Spring Classic (weight-for-age 2040m) after placings in the two lead up races at Hastings. She finished second to Ocean Park in the Challenge Stakes (1400m) and third to Mufhasa and Fleur de Lune in the Windsor Park Plate (1600m). Xanadu was running on well each time pointing to her chance over 2040m tomorrow. There is a question mark about the distance. The Elusive City mare has won over 1600m but has not raced beyond that distance. Elusive City has sired mainly sprinters.
She is trained at Matamata by Ken and Bev Kelso who won the corresponding race with Love Dance in 1996. Coleman has won the race on Moss Downs (1997), Excellent (2005) and Wall Street (2010).
Fleur de Lune has not been tried beyond 1600m and she has won up to 1400m.
Shez Sinsational and Postman's Daughter are proved middle distance or staying performers in the field.
Shez Sinsational won the weight-for-age International Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa, the Zabeel Classic (wfa, 2000m) at Ellerslie and the Auckland Cup (3200m) last season. She also won the Hollindale Stakes (1800m) on the Gold Coast.
Postman's Daughter won the Counties Cup (2100m) at Pukekohe last November.
The Kelsos have three smart horses in Traveller, Wisecrack and Confederate engaged at Te Rapa today.
Traveller (race 4) came in for praise from James McDonald after he rode him to a last-start win at Te Rapa on September 12.
"Thanks to James he's got more wrap on him than a Christmas present," Ken Kelso said.
"He's a lovely horse. He's wanting to go 2000m, but we've kept him until he's learned a bit."
Kelso said Wisecrack will need a middle distance, but he happy is with his chance at 1600m fresh.
"Confederate (race 7) has won one race and he's been given 60.5kg and he probably needs an apprentice allowance.
He's not really a kid's horse so he's going to go around with Opie Bosson and his full weight."
