Sport
8 July, 2021
Group one awaits Craven, Kowalski Analysis
HARNESS racing trainer Matthew Craven could not be any more excited to see his pacer Kowalski Analysis race at group one level this weekend.
HARNESS racing trainer Matthew Craven could not be any more excited to see his pacer Kowalski Analysis race at group one level this weekend.
The son of Roll With Joe is set to tackle The Rising Sun worth $250,000 at Albion Park on Saturday, with the event doubling as his racing return.
The race, which is restricted to three year-old and four year-old pacers, has attracted some of the sports’s rising stars.
Expensive Ego (dual group one winner), Kashed Up (group one-placed), Krug (2021 Northern Derby winner) and Copy That (proven New Zealand horse) will all meet the starter alongside Kowalski Analysis.
Craven, who ventured to Queensland last week, said his pacer had been prepared specificially for the event and should be competitive.
“I don’t think he’s out of it,” he said.
“He’s probably been off the radar because he hasn’t been racing recently but we set this race as a target for him and now we’re here for it so we’re hoping all will go well.
“Gates one, two and three were already decided but out of that gate eight or four was what we were after so to end up with gate four it gives him his opportunity to see how he goes I guess.
“If you had have drawn back row or have to go back from the start you might be in the race thinking you’re no chance but with gate four we’re some sort of chance to give ourselves an opportunity.”
Craven cannot fault the four year-old’s preparation heading into the inaugural event.
“His trials in the lead-up have been really positive and exactly what we wanted to see,” he said.
“He worked up here on the track last Friday, we gave him a race-like hit-out and it’s fair to say he was on the right track for this race.”
Craven said Kowalski Analysis’s two most recent campaigns also indicated the gelding deserved another shot at group one level.
“We know from his previous races in Melbourne and Sydney that he is definitely good enough,” he said.
“He’s one of the lesser assessed horses in the race but he’s sort of risen late through the year (last season) and then early this year through his Sydney campaign and has definitely showed he’s more than capable of being competitive.
“We’re not going in expecting to win but we do go into it thinking if things go our way we can be a big factor.”
Trotting star Pink Galahs will also step out at Albion Park on Saturday night after recording a win last Saturday.
The daughter of Skyvalley overcame an early race gallop to win the second heat of round one of the Darrell Alexander Trotting Championship.
“She gave us a bit of a scare on the first corner but to her credit she was down again nice and quickly,” Craven said.
“She lost significant ground which she can’t afford to do especially this week over the shorter distance.
“But it was just nice to see her in the winners’ stalls again.”
Pink Galahs will now line-up in another heat this weekend where she will meet a former pupil of Craven’s stable.
Godofthunder, which started its career under the Ecklin-based trainer, looms as the mare’s biggest danger in the 2138 metre event.
“God of Thunder will be the one to beat and is the one that can make it really hard for her to get into the race over the shorter distance,” Craven said.
“If we can get away safely and not lose too much ground we should be up there all being well.
“We’re hoping we get through to the final with that one and then there’s another race there the week after.”
Meanwhile, 2018 Queensland Derby winner Master Moonlite will step out for the first time in two and a half years at Melton on Friday night.
The Art Major gelding, which has been cruelled by a leg injury over the past two years, will contest a 2240 metre pace.
“It’s just nice to have him back,” Craven said.
“He trialled nicely at Terang last night (Tuesday night) but we just want him to go round safely.
“We are hoping we can get him back somewhere near the level he was racing previously.”