Close finish is ‘kanena provlima’ for outsider

IT GOT close at the finish, but there was no problem for Kanena Provlima at Club Menangle last night.

Having his fifth start at the world class venue, Kanena Provlima led throughout for trainer Ben Settree to finally break his maiden around the 1400-metre circuit.

“Although he has been down there a few times, he has not had a lot of luck with the draws,” Settree said. “He’s had some bad barriers and couldn’t get into the races.

“I thought he was in with a good show last night and things went his way this time.”

Driven by Justin Reynolds, Kanena Provlima worked hard to find the front after Shanway began quickly from the pole in an attempt to lead.

The field travelled in ‘Indian file’ early before Stanley Ross Robyn was taken to the ‘death’ to test Kanena Provlima at the bell.

Forced to dig deep along the home straight, the son of A Rockroll Dance scored by a half-head from the fast-finishing Royal Aurora.

In a ‘blanket’ finish Stanley Ross Robyn was a half-neck away third.

“I thought he went well,” Settree said. “He had to do all the work and then hold them off late.

“I was bullish about his chances without thinking he was a good thing…just that he was in with a good show.”

Rating 1:56.7 over 2300 metres, Kanena Provlima is co-owned by Settree and Fran Hausfeld, who has owned standardbreds for almost five decades.

In fact, Kanena Provlima traces back to one of Hausfeld’s early purchases – Willing Whiz.

Hausfeld, 90, bought Willing Whiz as a yearling, with the filly capturing the Bathurst Gold Tiara in 1988 and New South Wales Sires’ Final in 1989.

Willing Whiz is Kanena Provlima’s great great grand dam!

“Fran has been in the game for many years and bred some very nice horses along the way,” Settree said. “She still gets a thrill racing and watching her horses win.”