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Latta’s Group One hopes dashed

3 minute read

Lisa Latta is almost certain to revert to an alternative Hawke’s Bay plan with Mighty Solomon.

Mighty Solomon winning the Waikato Stud Hcp Picture: Race Images PN

The Awapuni trainer has all but given up hope of her Group One performer contesting the Triple Crown series at Hastings.

“It doesn’t look like he’ll get in any of them so we’ll run him in the open 1200 on the first day and then the Group Three over 1400 on the last day,” Latta said.

The winner of seven of his 17 starts and placed in the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile, Mighty Solomon has yet to be tested beyond 1600 metres and while Latta is confident he can be effective over more ground, she is in no rush to prove that point.

“There are still plenty of good mile races for him,” she said. “The Coupland’s is one of them and we’ll look to get him to Christchurch for that.”

The Riccarton carnival in November is also a target for two of Mighty Solomon’s high profile stablemates.

“Platinum Witness has completed five weeks on the water treadmill and she will be back in the stable in early September and the Coupland’s will be her main aim,” Latta said. “She will have either one or two runs leading into it.”

Last season’s Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks winner was spelled after an unplaced effort in the Gr.1 Queensland Oaks.

Meanwhile, Latta’s quality stayer King Kamada will return to action during the Hastings meeting.

“He’ll run in the open mile on the first day and we will be looking to the New Zealand Cup with him,” she said.

King Kamada was put aside after finishing runner-up in the Gr.1 Auckland Cup following previous placings at Group Two level in the Avondale and Wellington cups.