Classy Canberran I Am Kalani only getting better
The NICK Olive-trained two-year-old I Am Kalani may have broken its maiden at Canberra just a week ago, but the trainer believes the horse is capable of achieving instant success among class one company.
It’s been a progressive road in terms of results for the lightly-raced filly, after it debuted handily in the nation’s capital at the beginning of June, finishing fourth.
The daughter of I Am Invincible came back to the ACT track exactly two-weeks later and made its way into the placings, but the victory on July 14 is the race that is giving Olive cause for excitement.
The horse finally got the luck it needed and proceeded to torch the field in a 2yo & 3yo maiden, winning by over three lengths.
In what was a quality day in the ACT for the stable, I Am Kalani got clear racing room in the straight and stormed down the outside to record a commanding win and help guide the Nick Olive racing team to a training treble on the day.
The trainer sounded an ominous warning to the competitors in the Class One Heffernan Lending Soultions at Canberra on Friday, stating that he expects I Am Kalani to improve even further upon that run.
“She’s gotten better, or at least held her conditioning since then,” Olive told HorseBetting.com.au.
“So we’re expecting another good performance on Friday, because I thought her win the other day was very impressive.”
Friday will present the filly a new challenge however, given the 1200m distance will be the longest journey the horse has confronted to date.
The breakaway win suggested it may have a future beyond the three 1080m races the two-year-old has traveled to date, and the trainer believes there will be no issues covering the additional meterage.
“I think she will,” Olive said when asked if I Am Kalani will handle the additional trip on Friday.
“As long as she gets cover and relaxes in the run, she’ll love it.
“She’ll handle it no worries.”
Getting the horse to settle in the run has been a minor issue for I Am Kalani over its three-race career, and the trainer is mindful of the fact that while the filly is a juvenile, these issues will persist.
Olive stated that the horse has plenty of ability, but relies somewhat on getting a run in transit to suit.
“She’s always shown us a lot on the track but it’s just been putting everything together.
“The other day she got a bit of cover and got to relax which helped her finish the race off really strongly.”
Another strong advantage the home-town horse will get is the experience at the track.
A number of key elects in the field will be making their debut in the ACT on Friday, but I Am Kalani has raced exclusively at the track across its three race career to date.
While the horse does not have to travel far from the stable to the track to race competitively, Olive is mindful of putting too much strain on his galloper.
The final race on the card at Canberra will be the fourth event the filly has ran in on its maiden preparation, and Olive believes that it may be the last time we see I Am Kalani as a two-year-old.
The trainer said the horse will get a spell in the paddock following Friday’s race.
“She’ll have this run then we’ll give her a little break.”