On paper, Akuta looks home but Kevin Kline’s such a warrior he could get some of it

Kevin Kline’s enormous last-start placing has given co-trainer Ray Green plenty of confidence that he won’t be disgraced against Akuta at Auckland on Friday night.

On paper, Kevin Kline would seem to have little chance in the fifth race as a R58 pacer taking on Auckland Cup winner Akuta, who is rated R115.

But even though they are on level marks behind the mobile barrier, Green was so impressed by what he saw from his three-year-old at Alexandra Park two weeks ago that he is not ruling out getting some of the money.

Sent on a searching run four wide as far as 800 metres out, and forced five wide round the home turn, Kevin Kline remarkably kept coming in the home straight to finish three and a half lengths from winning stablemate Leo Lincoln.

Kevin Kline was clocked over his last mile of the 2200 metres in 1:56.3, easily the fastest closing sectional in the race, and doing it off the course.

“He’s a real warrior, isn’t he?” Green said. “He’s getting stronger and stronger and even putting on weight.

“We’re hoping he’ll be able to front up to the very best ones and, on what he’s doing, he could be a nice derby horse.”

Green knows it’s a big step-up this week, from a R45 to R60 race to taking on one of the best horses in the country, but he’s not putting up the white flag just yet.

“It’s hard to imagine Akuta being rolled but it’s his first run for a long time so he won’t be on top of his game.”

Akuta is doing well on the comeback trail for a horse originally diagnosed as having only a 10% chance of racing again. PHOTO: Ajay Berry/Race Images.The now six-year-old, who hasn’t raced since December 31, 2023, after a tendon injury and surgery, also has a concession junior driver at the helm in Brooke Wilkins, who has only nine winners to her name and none in New Zealand from nine attempts.

“If you’re not in, you can’t win and if the favourite isn’t ready, or gets some bad luck, Kevin could be johnny on the spot.”

Akuta has had only one workout to fit him for his resumption and that was back on May 20 when he finished third of three at Pukekohe, albeit never pulled off the back of stablemate and winner Rubira on very fast closing sectionals of 56.5 and 26.6.

That form looked good when Rubira left for Queensland soon after and won three of his four starts, including the Redcliffe and Queensland Derbies.

Akuta, the winner of 16 of his 31 starts, has been on a careful programme devised by Matamata vet Barbara Hunter, partner of co-trainer Mark Purdon, designed to have him at peak fitness for the cup meeting in November.

But since he first started racing, Akuta has shown exceptional natural ability, winning a mile fresh-up at Nelson in 1:51.8 in just his sixth start and first outing as a three-year-old.

The bookies have Rubira at $1.35, with stablemate Treacherous Baby next on $3.80 and Kevin Kline sharing the third line on $17.

Tyson is so tough he can never be ruled out. PHOTO: Megan Liefting/Race Images.Good each-way odds

Good each-way odds are also on offer for Tyson ($7, $2.10) one race earlier with his regular driver Zachary Butcher jumping ship to the Purdon/Phelan favourite Two Jules ($2.70).

But Green says you can’t fault the way Tyson is racing - last week he did plenty of work, sitting parked until the mile before taking over, then succumbing only late to J T Boe.

With Dear God and Jay Abernethy drawn inside Tyson on Friday night, making the lead won’t be quite so easy but Green says that’s no problem for Tyson.

“He doesn’t mind sitting parked, he just drops the bit and lopes along.”

Maurice McKendry takes the reins on Tyson this week, vacating the seat behind problem child Sugar Ray Lincoln for Peter Ferguson.

“Fergie was keen to have a go on him and we’ve also taken the hood off him and replaced it with removeable deafeners to see if that helps.

“He trains OK but on racenight he seems to lose the plot. He had no excuse for galloping 400 out last time.”