There are few more likeable sprinters in training than the evergreen Kachy, but his vulnerability is that his run-style is pretty dependant on him having a bend or two to run around, and he’d make more appeal in Nottingham’s Greyhound Derby* than the Temple Stakes.
This is a very warm handicap indeed, and with Oasis Prince put in as favourite, plenty will argue that Loch Ness Monster is a big price at around 12.0, but this is a race full of unexposed horses, many of them with higher aspirations, and while Mick Appleby’s charge ran a big race to be second to Oasis Prince last time, he’s been shoved back up the weights for that, and the bottom line is that he’s had four runs in handicaps off this or lower marks and has been beaten every time.
He is unlikely to be disgraced but has an awkward draw in stall two (the shape of the track here means that those drawn low are not favoured in big fields) and while his trainer is much respected, his record of 0-29 in the past fortnight is hardly encouraging.
It’s very tempting to take on the favourite Battaash as he can blow hot and cold, but there is a stronger angle and that is opposing Kachy. Tom Dascombe’s sprinter is a superstar, but he is quite an easy horse to pigeon-hole. He is simply much better around a bend than he is on a straight track. He has raced sixteen times in total on straight tracks, and his only success came on the first of those, whereas he has only lost once from nine tries on turning tracks.
Most of his wins have been on the AW, as the vast majority of turf sprint tracks are straight, with the notable exception of Chester, where he is unbeaten in three runs. He did run really well to be third in this race last year, but was drawn on his own on the far rail, and almost stole the race as a result.
Rory ain’t buying Kachy this weekend!
His recent wins have come over six furlongs, and while he’s lost no speed, the key to him is being able to work himself free of his opposition, which he does very well given the way he rails around tight tracks, and the problem with this track and trip is that his early speed will merely make him a target for his rivals, and I’ll be very surprised if he’s able to build enough of a lead, especially as Battaash is at least as fast over three furlongs when on song. The pair could well set it up for the reliable Mabs Cross, but the suggestion is simply to lay Kachy win and place.
*He’s not qualified, fwiw; apparently, you have to be a greyhound to get in.
Tom, Donn & Deasy look at the Irish 2000 & 1000 Guineas and the return of Battaash in the Temple Stakes at Haydock. There’s also a couple of longshots across Saturday and Sunday thrown in as a bonus!
