Mark Jones expects his new stable acquisition Kahdon will make up for her loss in the Jewels tonight. Photo / Christine Cornege
New trainer Mark Jones is thrilled to be landed with a second-line draw with Kahdon in tonight's A$50,000 Victoria Oaks at Melton.
He says that could be the key to winning the group one event.
New Zealand's best 3-year-old trotter joined the Canterbury horseman's stable last Sunday after a gutsy
second in the Harness Jewels.
Jones drove her for the first time on that occasion and was thrilled how she handled coming from the second line, boosting his confidence for tonight.
"When Paul [Nairn] had her he was a little worried about her getting too stirred up when she drew the front because she had so much gate speed," says Jones. "But last week, at the Jewels she was beautiful from the second line and followed through behind them perfectly at the start and relaxed afterwards.
"So I think drawing the second line this week is ideal.
"It means we can settle early and then move when we want and in a trotting field like this there should be plenty of gaps."
While Jones doesn't know Kahdon that well he is a keen form student and admits to being very confident tonight.
"I would think on the times these horses have run she should be able to sit parked for the last lap and beat them."
Jones was far from disappointed Kahdon couldn't sit parked outside Vulcan and beat him in the Jewels last Saturday. "It was partly my fault because I turned it into a real staying test which probably suited the winner.
"And after the field settled I was five lengths behind him, which is a lot of ground to make up at Cambridge."
Jones is happy with how Kahdon has settled in in Victoria and says she should be at her peak for tonight.
The 3-year-old trotting fillies' crop is not a strong one with Chris Lang's last-start New South Wales Oaks winner Good Thanks the one to beat tonight as she has gate speed and a high cruising speed.
Lang has seen plenty of Kahdon when campaigning Sundon's Gift at the Rowe Cup meeting last month and acknowledges the Kiwi filly deserves favouritism tonight.
