Master Kochanwong (Aus) (Commands {Aus}) belied odds of 8-1 and an eight-month break from the races to land this Class 1 event and enter the conversation for a potential overseas trip. Not out of the top three in 10 of his 14 previous trips to the post, the 6-year-old–whose four prior victories came over the all-weather track–was last seen finishing 10th in a course-and-distance test May 16. Drawn gate 10 for this comebacker, Master Kochanwong led them away from the stalls and set a decent pace from the two path as second choice Pablosky (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) prompted from the inside. Those two had it between them entering the final furlong and Master Kochanwong found extra late to prevail by two lengths (video). The victory came in spite of a deteriorating breathing condition. “He is one of the gutsiest, most determined horses I've ever ridden,” winning jockey Douglas Whyte told South China Morning Post. “The runner-up had a softer run than I did, and we were giving him [eight pounds] and my horse just knuckled down. He is just a little bulldog, that's what he is.” With few options at home, trainer David Hall is left to contemplate a start in a race like the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen at Meydan Mar. 26. “Taking a horse away with that sort of problem is a little bit risky but I suppose I'm going to have to talk to the owners about it because what else can you do?” Hall told SCMP.
Master Kochanwong (Aus), g, 6, Commands (Aus)–Elmira (Aus),
by Timber Country. Sha Tin, 1-17, Hcp. (A$443k), 1200m
(AWT), 1:08.07. B-Lindsay Park Stud Pty Ltd. *A$56,000 Wlg
'10 MMWNL; NZ$140,000 Ylg '11 NZBPRE.
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