Kings Will Dream and Humidor have both taken important steps towards their respective race returns, with each contesting a jump-out on the same morning in separate states.
Brae Sokolski, a part-owner of both geldings, was on hand when Kings Will Dream stepped out in a jump-out in Sydney on Tuesday morning for his new trainer Chris Waller at Rosehill and did everything they had hoped in the hit-out.
In Melbourne, multiple Group One winner Humidor, now under the care of Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, also took another pleasing step towards his planned return next month in a jump-out at Caulfield.
The pair have not raced since they both emerged from last year’s Cox Plate with injuries.
Kings Will Dream was pulled up early in the Cox Plate after suffering what was a life-threatening fractured pelvis, while Humidor finished third to champion Winx but came out of the race with a suspensory injury.
“I think I was quite emotional,” Sokolski told RSN927.
“I think in typical Chris fashion it was all business and he was very pragmatic about it, but certainly for me seeing the horse back on the track and going through the barriers for the first time since the mishap on Cox Plate day was very emotional.
“And I’m very pleased to say he came through the trial brilliantly.
“He did everything we hoped he would.
“It was a very soft jump-out. There was a couple of stablemates who had Group-class form and he just settled off them and didn’t come off the bridle and ran a tick under 12 (seconds) for his last 200 metres. And Chris was rapt with him.”
Sokolski said Kings Will Dream, who was ridden by Hugh Bowman in the jump-out, was scheduled to have a barrier trial in a fortnight ahead of a planned return in the Group One Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on August 24.
Damian Lane rode Humidor in his hit-out and Sokolski indicated the gelding could resume on August 17 in the P B Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield, or the Group One Memsie Stakes two weeks later.
“The horse did what Ciaron expected,” Sokolski said.
“He was just bowling along out the back. He was quite fresh prior to the trial which is great and Damian said he felt terrific under him.
“So it’s full steam ahead with him as well.”
Article from JustHorseRacing.com.au