Kings Pal continues to surprise Smith
TRAINER Bruce Smith believes stable star Kings Pal has more to offer the camp following their long trek north to Taranaki.
Smith said the horse surprised him with how well it adapted to the new surroundings.
“He’s coped with the trip 100 per cent, better than I thought he would,” he said.
“I’ve had him all his life and I was a bit worried, but I couldn’t be happier. He’s settled in well and eaten everything up.”
Saturday’s ITM Interprovincial Challenge at New Plymouth has been a race on Kings Pal’s programme, but the race was not set in stone until after the horse put together three solid performances at Riccarton earlier in the month.
“I had a plan going into the Grand National carnival and he fronted up for us,” Smith said.
Kings Pal was out of the money on the first day, but bounced back to win four days later and then finished runner-up on the closing day.
“He’s been a great horse for me and taught me a lot,” the trainer said.
“It’s a privilege to train him and for the owner, she’s never questioned anything.”
Bred and raced by Cantabrian Angela Hutchinson, the nine-year-old Kings Pal has won five of his 48 starts.
“He didn’t race until he was a late four-year-old and he’s as sound as a drum,” Smith continued.
“The only question mark could be coming back to the mile, but it’s a Heavy 11 here so it will seem like further.”
Kings Pal, whose stablemate Moonofklairessa was unplaced in the race last season, will be ridden by Chris Johnson, who has won on the gelding before.
Smith added: “If the horse runs up to expectations then we could stay up here for the Foxton Cup over 2200m.”