Stephen McKee to weigh up Hasabro options
New Zealand trainer Stephen McKee is weighing up options on how to get three-year-old Hasabro to the Victoria Derby after his unlucky second at Geelong.
Hasabro was held up in the straight in a 1755m-race on Monday before charging home.
“I was pleased with how he went, but it was a bit disappointing as he should have won,” McKee told NZ Racing Desk.
“As a result he has not gone up in the ratings and he hasn’t got much more prize money in the bin, so it just leaves us in the cart a little bit as to where we go from here.
“I wouldn’t have minded going straight into the Geelong Classic in three weeks as he is pretty fit already, but I will have to get a feel for what the likelihood is that he will get in. It is no good sitting on our hands and not getting in the Derby later on.
“It may well mean we have to split it up and run in another maiden in ten days or so, but I would have preferred only one more run.”
McKee trains Hasabro’s Group One-winning four-year-old sister Hasahalo who could also head to Melbourne.
The winner of the 2017 NZ 1000 Guineas, Hasahalo has had a recent barrier trial ahead of her return with the Group One Myer Classic on Derby day, November 3, a possibility.
“She is a horse that would probably love a mile at Flemington, but we might be a couple of weeks short of being able to get her ready for it,” McKee said.