Racing
League
Rugby
Cricket
Golf
Motorsport
Combat Sports
Football
Netball
Basketball
Other Sports
Sport Nation
Harrison hoping third time’s a charm with King Khan
Joshua Smith, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk • September 12th, 2025 4:36 pm
King Khan (inside) will contest Saturday’s NZB Airfreight Road To The Jericho (3210m) at New Plymouth | Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)
Cambridge trainer Ken Harrison is hoping it’s third time’s a charm with his stayer King Khan in Saturday’s NZB Airfreight Road To The Jericho (3210m) at New Plymouth.
The son of Mongolian Khan has contested the last two editions of the race, placing in the 2023 edition before running fifth in last year’s postponed running at Waverley.
Inclement weather forced the delay of last year’s edition, and with New Plymouth’s track rated a Heavy10 on Friday morning, and more rain forecast, he is hoping they aren’t met by the same fate this year.
“Last year was a bit of a disaster, we had to travel two or three times to the (Road To The) Jericho,” Harrison said.
“I am just hoping the rain doesn’t dampen things too much that they put the races off, but he needs the rain anyway.”
King Khan has been in solid form over winter, winning one and placing in four of his last six starts, and Harrison is hoping he continues that run of form this weekend.
“This prep he has been hardly out of the money and has been a lot more consistent,” he said.
King Khan has drawn barrier one and will be ridden by leading hoop Craig Grylls.
“He will get back anyway, he hasn’t got a lot of early pace,” Harrison said. “With Craig on, hopefully he will be running on at the end.
“He seems to thrive over the longer distances, but those jumpers will be hard fit.”
The winner of the NZB Airfreight Road To The Jericho (3210m) will gain a golden ticket into the A$304,000 The Jericho Cup (4600m), which will be run at Warrnambool on November 30.
If King Khan were to win on Saturday, Harrison is keen to cross the Tasman and tackle the staying feature, although he said track conditions may not suit his charge at that time of year.
“That’s the plan, but November 30 it is usually a drier track over there and he doesn’t handle dry tracks at all,” he said. “But maybe we can fluke a wet one over there, we will just have to wait and see.”
King Khan will be joined on the float trip south to New Plymouth on Saturday by Espresso To Go, who could be making his last raceday appearance in the Hel Rimu (2000m).
“He has been a bit disappointing over the last 18 months,” Harrison said. “I am not sure what is up with him. He has got to improve tomorrow otherwise he won’t be going much further.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
