Not happy with the early pace in the Essilor NZ-sponsored feature at Ellerslie, Bosson made an early move to set up a more genuine tempo and the colt's stamina told in a perfect dress rehearsal for the Gr.1 TV3 NZ Derby in a fortnight's time.
"Opie took the initiative and that's why he's the number one rider," co-trainer
Murray Baker said.Mongolian Khan won by a length and three quarters from the maiden Prima, who showed his previous Gr.3 Waikato Guineas placing was no flash in the pan, with the favourite Volkstok'n'barrell third.
He dropped back to the tail of the field from a wide gate and got home stoutly to finish ahead of his stablemate Midnitemagicman. McQueen was fifth with Sound Proposition another to hit the line well for sixth.
Mongolian Khan's performance was enough for him to be promoted to outright $3 favouritism for the Derby ahead of Volkstok'n'barrell, who has drifted from $2.60 to $3.20.
"He's won all three races beyond a mile and it was another very good effort," Baker said.
"He had to make two runs and you don't often see that in a Group race. He showed his class and outstayed them – he's a top colt."
Baker, who prepares Mongolian Khan at Cambridge with Andrew Forsman, said the three-year-old wouldn't require a lot of work between now and his return for the Derby at Ellerslie, where he is unbeaten in three appearances.
"He's a fit and happy horse and in top form. We know that he can stay – he relaxes in his races and that's the key."
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 New Zealand breeding industry in the past few
years where they have purchased in excess of 500 horses through the auction
ring or via private sales.
A successful pinhook having been bought for $140,000 as a yearling and re-sold for $220,000 at the 2013 NZB Ready To Run Sale of two-year-olds, Mongolian Khan has now taken his record to five wins from just six starts .
Bred by Tasmanian based Grenville Stud, Mongolian Khan is a half-brother to Group I winner Young Centaur and is one of 47 stakes-winners for Holy Roman Emperor.
A successful pinhook having been bought for $140,000 as a yearling and re-sold for $220,000 at the 2013 NZB Ready To Run Sale of two-year-olds, Mongolian Khan has now taken his record to five wins from just six starts .
Bred by Tasmanian based Grenville Stud, Mongolian Khan is a half-brother to Group I winner Young Centaur and is one of 47 stakes-winners for Holy Roman Emperor.
His dam Centafit has a Magnus colt foal and was covered last spring by young Northern Meteor son Fighting Sun.
– NZ Racing Desk.
