Trentham's 1600-metre G1 Captain Cook S. drew a field of 10 older gallopers following the scratch of Mime (NZ) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) and six-time Group 1 hero Kawi (NZ) (Savabeel {Aus}) is still looking for his first win of the season in the NZ$200,000 contest. The 2016/2017 New Zealand champion middle distance horse resumed with a third in the G2 Foxbridge Plate at Te Rapa on Aug. 19, but dropped a spot in the G1 Tarzino Trophy S. on Sept. 2. Reporting home third in his latest two efforts–the G1 Windsor Park Horlicks Plate near the end of September and in the 1600m G2 Tauranga S. on Nov. 18 one behind Oct. 22 G3 Cuddle S. heroine Miss Wilson (Aus) (Stratum {Aus}), Kawi will need to raise his game to add a seventh top-flight ring.
Michael and Matthew Pitman send out challenger Son of Maher (Aus) (Al Maher {Aus}), who has won his last two on the bounce at Riccarton, including deadheating with Shadows Cast (NZ) (Per Incanto) in the G2 Coupland's Bakeries Mile on Nov. 15.
G2 Brisbane Cup winner Chocante (NZ) (Shocking {Aus}) returns to New Zealand on the back of a third in the Sept. 30 2400-metre G1 The Metropolitan to Foundry (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and was last seen running seventh in Randwick's St Leger S. going 2600m on Oct. 14.
One of the more lightly raced contestants, Sensible Princess (NZ) (Street Sense) was stepping up to group company for the first time in the Nov. 25 G2 Auckland T'bred Breeders S. at Pukekohe, but found the dead track to her liking and saluted narrowly, with the reopposing MGSW Coldplay (NZ) (Savabeel {Aus}) third.
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