Progressive staying mare looking to add to cup collection Thu, 09 Aug 2012

High Kin’s more immediate future will focus on another home track prize while longer-term her trainer David Greene is considering the attractions of Australia’s feature carnivals.

The exciting daughter of High Chaparral was a convincing last-start winner of the Listed Hibiscus Painters Taumarunui Cup and another prestige staying event at Te Rapa will be her next big challenge.

“She’s having a bit of a let-up now and then the main goal will be the Waikato Gold Cup and we plan to have a couple of lead in runs, but haven’t fixed on anything just yet as we are mindful of her rating,” Greene said.

“If she can go through and pick up a race the cup, which is definitely within her capabilities, then maybe we have to seriously think ahead to Brisbane next winter and Melbourne the following spring.”

High Kin joined Greene’s stable earlier this year and has made quick-fire progress through the grades and crowned by her most recent defeat of The Jungle Boy and Marea Alta.

“She was a maiden in early May and you wouldn’t normally expect to have the Taumarunui Cup in the cupboard by the end of July,” Greene said. “She has surprised me how fast she has come up and she’s still got a long way to go.”

She reeled off four straight wins and while she made her open class debut off the minimum, the five-year-old did it all with a minimum of fuss. “I thought she did it quite easily and she’s never hit the lead like that before,” Greene said. “She did get to the front too soon, because she was going so well, and she had a lot more to give if anything had come alongside.”

Greene expected High Kin to continue her outstanding form over more ground and the mare’s pedigree gives further cause for encouragement. She is from the family of the champion staying mare and Caulfield and Melbourne Cup winner Let’s Elope.

“I believe she’ll get a mile and a-half (2400m) no problem and, dare I say it, two miles (3200m),” he said. “She’s not your typical New Zealand stayer though, she’s very light-boned and doesn’t carry much condition.”