Peter and Shaun McKay are dreaming of a Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) tilt with their quality stayer Wolfgang, and he will start his journey towards the iconic feature at Wanganui on Saturday.
The son of Peter McKay’s former Group One winner Puccini, Wolfgang tested his talent in Australia last spring when sixth in the Gr.2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) and fourth in the Gr.3 Geelong Cup (2400m).
He came of age with the trip and entered career-best form on his return to New Zealand, finishing runner-up in the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m), Gr.3 Manawatu Cup (2300m) and Listed Kaimai Stakes (2000m), and won the Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m) and New Zealand St Leger (2500m).
His victory in the Wellington Cup gave his trainers the confidence to target further two-mile features, and they have set their sights on the most coveted prize of them all, the Melbourne Cup.
He will kick-off his campaign in the Wanganui-Taranaki Racehorse Owners Association Open 2040 on Saturday where he has drawn barrier nine, and he will receive some weight relief from his 62kg impost courtesy of apprentice jockey Liam Kauri’s three-kilogram claim.
The track was rated a Heavy8 on Wednesday, and the McKays are hoping it improves prior to the weekend.
“He has had a couple of trials under his belt,” Peter McKay said. “I would still like to see the track dry out to at least a (Soft) 6 or a 7.
“If the track dries out a bit more, hopefully he should be doing some nice work at the finish. If it is about an (Heavy) 8 or 9, if he runs midfield, we will be happy enough because he doesn’t really like the wet.
“He needs the run, there are no other options at this stage.
“As long as he goes alright (he will head straight to Australia after this run). If he is disappointing, we will just have to try and mark time and find somewhere to run him again.”
All going to plan, Wolfgang will head to Melbourne in the coming weeks where he will target three Melbourne Cup automatic entry races – Gr.3 Archer Stakes (2500m), Gr.3 The Bart Cummings (2500m), and Geelong Cup.
“The plan is just this run now and then go over, I just can’t see any other race that suits here,” McKay said.
“He is going to carry 62kg in the handicap races here, where at least over there he will get pushed down a bit in weight.
“There are two or three races where if he could win one of them it will get him into the Melbourne Cup, but even without running in the Melbourne Cup, there are still three or four races for him worth A$500,000.”
While the Melbourne Cup is Wolfgang’s primary spring objective, McKay has a Plan B in place in New Zealand.
“The only race that is suitable for him here is the New Zealand Cup (Gr.3, 3200m), so I have put a nom in there just in case we don’t get over there,” he said.
McKay said it would be a dream to compete in the Melbourne Cup, but he is aware of the task ahead of them.
“Last year, the way the field came out, he would have got a run, but this year they are putting up a lot more money and I think it could be a lot stronger field,” he said. “He would just about have to win one of those qualifying races to get in.
“It would be a dream to be in it, but there are also other races over there to compete in.”
Wolfgang will be joined in his Saturday assignment by stablemate Sagunto, who will be second-up, and McKay said he will appreciate the step up in trip.
“He likes a little bit better track, but he has improved since his first-up run at Ruakaka where there was rain on the day,” he said.
“Up to 2000m, he is fitter, he gets well down the weights with his four-kilo claim, so he will hopefully roll him along for a while.
“He is a 10-year-old now, but he feels as good as he did when he was a seven and eight-year-old.”
The stable will be chasing stakes success at the meeting with Faultless, who will contest the Listed HS Dyke Wanganui Guineas (1200m).
The son of Tivaci was runner-up to race-rival To Bravery Born when first-up over 1100m at Taupo earlier this month, and McKay is hopeful of a bold showing this weekend.
“His last run was very pleasing,” McKay said. “He has come back as a three-year-old a little bit stronger and more level-headed than what he was as a two-year-old. We are very happy with him.
“It is a nice, strong field and he should show a lot of cheek, but once we get him to 1400m and a mile it is going to be more his go.
“The way he races last start, I think if he can get a nice sit in behind the speed and handles the track okay, he should be competitive.”
A day prior at Cambridge’s synthetic meeting, the stable will line-up last-start runner-up Rocky Marciano in the NZ Horse Ambulance 1550.
“He went really well in his first-up run there and the 1550m should suit him,” McKay said. “He has come back a lot stronger this year.
“Hopefully he can clear maidens soon, he has had a few starts, but once he does, and gets up over ground, I think he could be quite a nice staying horse.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
