Despite being defeated as a -500 favourite on Saturday, trainer Ken Kelso remains committed to aiming his talented mare Legarto for the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m).
The four-year-old had to settle for second place behind +1900 outsider El Vencedor in the Group 1 New Zealand Stakes (2000m), with Kelso attributing the loss to what he perceived as a disadvantageous track pattern at Ellerslie.
“I've just got the feeling it was a very similar situation on Saturday to the Karaka Millions race (Aotearoa Classic),” Ken Kelso told Racing.com.
“The new track at Ellerslie, they get slow sectionals and kick off the corner, she's a bit late to wind up.
“I feel as though the big, roomy track at Flemington will suit her better, Ellerslie's become a real on-pace biased track.”
“She actually nearly fell leaving the straight if you watch the replay, she got bad interference at the 1800 metres, leaving the straight the first time.
“Whether that contributed to anything, I don't really know. We're still on target, we're not disappointed with the run.”
Looking ahead to the Australian Cup, Kelso has secured the services of compatriot Michael Dee for Legarto's ride on March 30.
“She'll do her final work here on the Tuesday and then come over in the early hours of Wednesday morning, I think.”
Legarto is priced a +700 winning chance for the Australian Cup with horse racing betting sites.