Mark Minervini was on the ball!
King’s Duty’s had to contend with a sixty-two kilo impost at Scone on Friday, and the Newcastle trainer was adamant how he should be ridden in the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1400m).
Courtesy of an inside barrier, Minervini instructed jockey Ash Morgan to take full advantage of that and make his rivals chase him.
“Ash was thinking about riding him conservatively a few pairs back because of his big weight,” Minervini explained on Saturday.
“But I didn’t want him throwing away a good barrier.
“You’re a genius if you are right, and a mug if you’re wrong.”
Minervini certainly wasn’t the latter. Skilfully handled in front, King’s Duty ($4.80) returned to the winning list, defeating fellow Newcastle trainer Kris Lees’ pair Eclair Encore ($1.95 favorite) and Exceedaqa ($6.50).
It was Minervini’s second winner of the season – Dubai Flyer was his first at Newcastle on August 24 – and there have been 12 minor placings interspersed.
King’s Duty, a five-year-old son of Exosphere, posted his third victory at his 19th start.
“He has been in and out of the wilderness, and hasn’t yet fulfilled the ability he showed earlier on,” Minervini said.
“King’s Duty worked from a wide barrier to lead on debut when he scored over 1150m on the Beaumont track in January last year on a heavy track, and then later in the year also led on the Beaumont track in a Benchmark 64 Handicap (1250m) when resuming and was just caught by Sydney Bowler, who won at Randwick at his next start.
“He is fit and I had no concern backing him up after his close fifth in the Jungle Juice Cup (1350m) at Newcastle last Saturday.
“The Scone race was the perfect opportunity to allow him to get into a rhythm and roll along, and that’s how he likes to race.
“Ash rode him well under his big weight, and the horse did a really good job.”
Story courtesy of Provincial Racing NSW