Kitty Flash set for Levin Classic challenge after impressive trial

Kitty Flash winning an 1100m open trial at Tauranga on Thursday. Photo / Kenton Wright (Race Images)

Progressive 3-year-old filly Kitty Flash led all the way in the hands of Masa Hashizume to down a talented field of open-class gallopers in a special 1100m trial conducted before racing kicked off at Tauranga on Thursday.

The daughter of Ace High, who was fresh up after finishing seventh in the Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in November, headed up a three-strong team of runners for Cambridge trainer Andrew Forsman, who all pleased their mentor with their runs.

Three-year-old staying prospect Hinekaha chased her stablemate hard in the run home to finish second, while open-class star Aegon never left second gear as he made up good ground from last to finish on the tail of Group 1 placegetter Pearl Of Alsace, who took third.

Forsman indicated he is likely to tackle the Group 2 Top Kat Roofing Levin Classic (1400m) at Trentham on January 11 fresh up with Kitty Flash, a race where she could be joined by Hinekaha in a dual assault on the feature.

“I’m not quite sure where we will go until I’ve had a talk to Masa, but the Levin Classic is still on the cards as 1400m in a fresh state will suit,” Forsman said.

“Hinekaha is a nice filly on the rise and we will be working towards staying races with her.

“She has to resume somewhere in the next few weeks, and whether that is in the Levin Classic or the Desert Gold Stakes [Group 3, 1600m] at Trentham a week later is a decision that we have to make.”

Forsman has the Group 1 Harcourts Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham on the same day as the Levin Classic booked for Aegon, who looked in fine fettle after a short spell following his runner-up finish in the Group 3 Great Northern Challenge Stakes (1600m) at Ellerslie in November.

“He [Aegon] is going really well and is on target for the Thorndon Mile on Saturday week,” he said.

Aegon currently sits as a $10 chance in the TAB Fixed Odds market for the Thorndon Mile, which is headed up by joint favourites Snazzytavi and La Crique, both at $6, while Kitty Flash is the $8 second-favourite behind Savaglee ($2.80) for the Levin Classic, with Hinekaha sitting at a $12 quote.

– LOVERACING.NZ News Desk