Kite’s trio well placed at Ascot Park

By Jonny Turner

A quality line up of drives awaits Oliver Kite at Ascot Park on Wednesday.

The junior reinsman won’t lack horsepower when he combines with the talented Rakamurph in race 5.

The two-year-old steps back in grade after starting in the Group One Sires Stakes Final on New Zealand Cup Day.

The pacer looks thrown in on Wednesday, taking on maidens and first starters as a two-win horse.

“He had a couple of days off after he came home from Christchurch,” Kite said.

“He probably wasn’t at his best on Cup Day, he didn’t race up to what he did going into it.”

“But he was going good races before that.”

“He seems good and he is dropping out of Group One level so he should be thereabouts.”

Kite also combines with Foveaux Strait for his boss Nathan Williamson in race 9.

The pacer hasn’t had too many favours in his two runs back this time in.

That looks set to change from barrier 4 on Wednesday.

“He has been going good with a couple of thirds,” Kite said.

“Stepping up in distance this week from a mile suits.”

“He has got a good draw and he should be thereabouts.”

Kite also combines with the Lauren Pearson trained Insist The Win in race 6.

The trotter has the advantage of starting from the front line, giving him a head-start on handicapped runners Winning Bones (25m) and Tweedledee (50m).

“He has got a good head-start on the two main rivals on the back marks.”

“He seems to have good manners and with a clean getaway he should be thereabouts.”

Kite heads into Wednesday’s meeting in good form after driving Tartan Raider to win at Winton last week.

“He is a good wee horse, no matter what he tries 110%.”

“He had a bit of good luck last week, he had had a bit of bad luck before that with draws and things just not going his way.”

“He went good the week before but he had to do a bit of work, but last week he had a good run and he was too good for them. “

Last week’s victory took Kite to 10 career wins.