Heavy rain prior to raceday saw the already small field depleted by scratchings
with form pundits struggling to find a natural leader amongst the six candidates
that contested the event.That role was left to Grylls on the son of Holy Roman Emperor who he rated to perfection after setting a muddling speed throughout.
The Murray Baker and
Andrew Forsman trained galloper kept up a strong gallop in the home straight to
dispatch stablemate Ezra who tracked the speed throughout with race favourite
Midnitemagicman running on for a well beaten third.
"It was a good effort as he hadn't raced for over six weeks but he still jumped out nicely and settled well during the race," said Grylls.
"They left us alone to do our own thing and when the pressure came on he had a good kick and did it comfortably in the end.
"He handled the track well although he's just as good on top of the ground and I don't think that going further will bother him either."
Mongolian Khan is owned by the Inner Mongolia Rider Horse Industry Company, a consortium that is headed by Manchurian business magnate, Mr Lang Ling. The organisation has had a major impact on the local breeding industry in the past few years where they have purchased in excess of 500 horses through the auction ring or via private sales.
The $220,000 purchase from the 2013 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale of two-year-olds has now taken his record to three wins from just four starts and currently sits on the third line of favouritism for the Gr. 1 New Zealand Derby in March behind early favourite Volkstok'n'barrell
"It was a good effort as he hadn't raced for over six weeks but he still jumped out nicely and settled well during the race," said Grylls.
"They left us alone to do our own thing and when the pressure came on he had a good kick and did it comfortably in the end.
"He handled the track well although he's just as good on top of the ground and I don't think that going further will bother him either."
Mongolian Khan is owned by the Inner Mongolia Rider Horse Industry Company, a consortium that is headed by Manchurian business magnate, Mr Lang Ling. The organisation has had a major impact on the local breeding industry in the past few years where they have purchased in excess of 500 horses through the auction ring or via private sales.
The $220,000 purchase from the 2013 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale of two-year-olds has now taken his record to three wins from just four starts and currently sits on the third line of favouritism for the Gr. 1 New Zealand Derby in March behind early favourite Volkstok'n'barrell
He is a half-brother to Group I winner Young Centaur being from Centafit and is the 46th stakes-winner for Holy Roman Emperor. . – NZ Racing Desk
