"He is not back to his best yet but he is not far away," Ricky May, his driver, said after Monkey King eclipsed 13 rivals.
The 9yr-old Monkey King, who had not raced for four months, improved from back in the field to lead at the 1300m and won by a length and a-quarter. He gave May his sixth win in the Hannon Memorial.
May drove Baileys Dream to win in 2007 for Robert Famularo, the owner of Monkey King. Baileys Dream was trained by Steven Reid. The Famularo-owned horses are now trained by Brendon Hill at Kaiapoi.
Monkey King ran the 2600m yesterday in 3.15.7 which compared with the race and track record of 3.13.4 set by Cullen's Creek last year.
Monkey King ran his last 800m in 56.7 and 400 in 27.9.
"I couldn't be more happy with him. He is a different horse this time in. I just don't know what went wrong with him in the autumn," May said.
Power Of Tara, a stablemate of Monkey King, started favourite yesterday but dropped out to ninth after being prominent at the 800m.
Second Wind, who had not raced for 10 months, ran on for second after trailing close to the pace. He finished a length and a-half clear of Rangataua Ray, who led out then trailed when Monkey King went to the front.
Franco Emirate and Smiling Shard, New Zealand Cup candidates, are progressing well for a return to racing after workout wins on Saturday.
Franco Emirate recorded 3.19.1 for 2600m after starting from 70m at Motukarara. He won by two lengths from Call Me Danny with a length to the other runner, Indrah. Trainer Jim Curtin said he was pleased with the effort and that Franco Emirate would resume at Addington on September 30.
Smiling Shard ran 3.25.6, the last 800m in 56.9, at Rangiora after starting from 40m. He won by half a head from My Man Dan. Smiling Shard is due to resume at Addington on October 14.
• Dakota Grace ran a track record 2.25 for 2000m (mobile) when she led throughout the race for junior drivers at Oamaru yesterday.
Dakota Grace, who was having her first race for nine weeks, won by two lengths, pacing her last 800m in 56.3.
She bettered the track mark of 2.25.3 set by The Flyin Doctor as a 3yr-old in March, 2004.
Star Of Isis set a track record for a 3yr-old filly when she won in 2.27.5 yesterday, leading over the last 1300m. She bettered the mark of 2.28.4 set by Baileys Pearl in 2009.
• Eagle Eye Bromac, a $38,000 yearling, won yesterday at his first start. The 4yr-old is trained by Geoff Dunn, who races the Artsplace gelding with Bob and Jen Sandford, of Christchurch.
"He [Eagle Eye Bromac] just kept growing and we have been very patient with him. He is still a bit gangly," Sandford said.
Eagle Eye Bromac was lot one at the 2009 premier sale.
