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The real Kabayan turned up at Rosehill on Saturday much to the Gai Waterhouse stable relief when the Haradasun gelding won the $250,000, Group 2 Stan Fox Stakes with ease.
Kabayan was fancied by the stable for the Group 1 Golden Rose over 1400m on September 12th but he finished fifth over 3L from the winner Epaulette. Waterhouse pressed on with the campaign and the result was well worth while.
Entering the main straight the leader Magic Shaft under James McDonald was still in command. The field fanned with the $1.60 favourite Albrecht and Kerrin McEvoy the widest of all and Kabayan and Nash Rawiller mid-field and coming immediately outside Magic Shaft.
With 300m to run Magic Shaft was overtaken by Kabayan with Albrecht giving chase outside. The rest were already struggling.
Albrecht had every chance to overhaul the leader but he was not able to pick up sufficiently for the task and Rawiller keep Kabayan going to pull away for a good 1 3/4L win.
Albrecht (Redoute’s Choice) held on for second with Divine Moon (God’s Own) and Hugh Bowman third, the margin a neck. Mama’s Choice was fourth and Fiveandahalfstar fifth.
The time was 1.31.67 on the Dead 4 track with the final 600m in 36.33. Kabayan paid $2.80.
Kabayan was shortened in two futures market after the win from $31 into $17 to win the Caulfield Guineas and $13 into $9 for the Champion Stakes to now sit on the third line of betting behind Proisir and It’s A Dundeel (NZ).
Waterhouse immediately declared that Kabayan would back up next Saturday in the $400,000, Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick.
“He has been the bridesmaid a couple of times and he has just been in the wings waiting to pounce,” she said.
Asked if she was willing to put Kabayan up against the other stable entrant for the Spring Champion Stakes, Proisir, and the current $1.80 favourite, Waterhouse had no doubts
“It will make it more interesting. He deserves to be there after that win,” she said.
“This horse I really thought was a good thing in the Golden Rose but they were just a bit too brilliant for him, but today over the 1500m with the slower tempo he just accelerated that last 100m,” she said.
“I guess after the Golden Rose we were left scratching our heads a little bit. He had no reason to leave it there and he did not do a lot on the day unfortunately, but we have full confidence in the ability of the horse,’ said Rawiller.
“I honestly thought he was a genuine chance in the Golden Rose, but he has backed up that judgement today,” he added.
