Trainer Peter McKay was nervous when he scratched Kay's Awake from yesterday's $60,000 Westbury Classic, but won the race anyway with Special Mission.
The base reason for Kay's Awake being scratched was the rain-affected track conditions, but riding engagements were also a factor.
Special Mission was ridden byapprentice James McDonald and McKay had been keen to claim McDonald's allowance off Kay's Awake, because there are few races which Kay's Awake can run in which permit apprentice allowances.
"James is the rider I would have liked for Kay's Awake, but what do you do?" said McKay.
There are no claiming rights on the Westbury Classic due to the newness of the race the Auckland Racing Club introduced three years ago to flesh out a new carnival, when the Auckland Cup and Derby were relocated from Christmas/New Year to March.
"There won't be a claim in this race next year if we get stakes rating for the event," said ARC director Russell Warwick, also general manager of the race sponsors Westbury Classic.
Special Mission had a slight throat obstruction removed by surgery and McKay said chiropractor Baz Dowling had been marvellous in removing soreness from the filly's neck.
Special Mission's first three wins were achieved on rain-affected footing and, in the hope of taking advantage of that, McKay bypassed his local recent Matamata meeting to race the filly at New Plymouth. Ironically, the footing at Taranaki was firm and heavy rain fell all day at Matamata. But she was still too good at New Plymouth.
"But at least we now know she can perform on firm tracks too," said McKay.
He is now looking towards the $200,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes at Te Aroha. "I think she'll handle the 1600m, but she'll probably need another run before," he said.
