Kajaki Fights For First Win
When you think of a grey winning in the two shades of green there is only one horse you think of, The Grey Gatsby, but on Friday night it was Kajaki who showed all the tenacity of his stable mate. Like Gatsby he is owned by Mr Frank Gillespie, his dad is Mastercraftsman and he has already shown that he rarely runs a bad race. Although he hasn’t quite matched his compatriot in terms of success, he took centre stage at Haydock when he won for the first time in the 1m4f handicap.
Sometimes horses can get labelled unfairly and Kajaki had been mentioned to be a little un-genuine or tripless. This was a bit harsh on the 3 year old and his run of placed efforts was due more to his rivals than his ability or mindset. Connections have been very happy with the grey all season and finding the right trip for him was proving a little difficult due to his consistency. Having run over trips varying from 10f to 14f, Kajaki had always tried very hard and run well, which meant Kevin could not quite nail down which trip was his preferred.
Kajaki started his season off over 1m2f and had run very well, looking as though a stiffer test of stamina would suit. After that run he has been tried over 1m4f and 1m6f, running well but also confusing connections a little. When he has run over the shorter distance is looked as though he needed further and when tried over further it seemed as though he didn’t stay. Kajaki kept his record of placed efforts going which meant that he remained on a mark of 70 but Kevin was just trying to find the key to getting his head in front. Following his last run at Haydock, over 1m6f, it was decided that he did not stay the trip and 1m4f races were now the target. Kajaki got a little leeway from the handicapper, who dropped him a pound to 69, and Kevin set out to find a suitable middle distance event for the 3 year old.
Having shown form at Haydock it was an obvious choice for his next race when the 0-80 handicap came up in the racing calendar. The long straight of the track looked to have suited his running style in the past so Kevin was confident Kajaki could again run a good race, hopefully getting his head in front this time around. Tom Eaves has been the jockey who has partnered him most through his short career and was once again booked for the ride.
Kajaki was set to take on just 4 rivals and there looked to be a lack of pace in the race so Tom was aiming to make the running. He got his wish as the gates opened and it was only Tom who looked keen to go forward. The rest of the jockeys were happy to give him the lead and filed in behind the green colours. It was a fair gallop which meant it was due to be a genuine race and one that should suit all the runners. With Kajaki out in front he pricked his ears and immediately looked to enjoy his front running role.
It was a small field so as they took a lead from Kajaki they all bunched tightly in behind, taking the shortest route possible. Monaco Rose (R.Fahey/P.Mathers) were always close by the leader but sat on his girths rather than take him on. This meant both horses were allowed to travel within themselves and neither went to take the other on, blowing the race for each other. Kajaki isn’t the biggest horse and he nipped across the turf as he took the field along through the first few furlongs.
Over the 1m4f trip there is plenty of time to line up your run and gain a position so little changed for the first half of the race. Tom was allowed to dictate throughout and he just let Kajaki travel within his hands, going at a nice gallop. With only 5 runners the field were never going to be stretched out and were running in close proximity to each other. Everyone was happy with their position and the pace so they moved into the bend in the same order.
The straight at Haydock is around 3 1/2 furlongs which ensures the latter stages of the race will be a good test of stamina. Kajaki took the field into the home straight still holding a small lead. All the runners still travelled well but there were a couple of the jockeys getting a little more animated, trying to get their mounts to step up through the gears. On the front end, Kajaki and Monaco Rose still went well and were the two who travelled the strongest.
As they moved inside the 3f marker Monaco Rose began to lay down a challenge to Kajaki. Tom was quick to cover this and just squeezed his mount along, trying to hold his advantage. Kajaki still held sway in front but it was a narrow margin and there was a long way to go. The other three rivals began to make some headway and the winner wasn’t clear with all the field holding a chance. Tom was trying to get a run from Kajaki but he was going to have to repel the challengers for over 2f and he was just starting to crack.
The 2f pole came and went with Tom now in full drive. Kajaki was responding but he was looking like a sitting duck out in front. Nothing had come from behind yet but it was Monaco Rose who looked the strongest and loomed up on the leader’s outside. Now looking the most likely winner, Monaco Rose kicked on and headed Kajaki, who was looking a little one paced. He was a neck down now but Tom continued to work hard, trying to get a second wind from Kajaki.
Despite being headed, Kajaki was not giving in and began to find a little more again. Moving inside the final furlong he was down just a head and the leader was not getting away from him. The further they went the stronger the grey looked but he was also under pressure from the rail. There were now three in a row but it was Kajaki who was showing a better response to pressure. He gamely got his head back in front deep into the final furlong with both horse and jockey working very hard together. It was now down to the battle and Kajaki was well up for it, sticking his head down and trying his heart out. Not to be denied he ran all the way to the line and managed to repel Monaco Rose on the nod.
Kajaki battling hard to earn his first career win
Kajaki really deserved this win after running consistently well all season. People may have been quick to judge him as a potential monkey with regards to attitude as he had a string of placed efforts to his name but he dispelled any of those thoughts with a hard fought win. After being headed he battled hard and saw the trip out really well. This could be a good confidence boost for him and could see more wins coming his way. It was great to get a winner for Mr Frank Gillespie, who has been a big supporter of the yard. Hopefully Kajaki can now progress from this first win and keep the green colours in the winners enclosure.