Aloha big races – Honolua Bay is on his way.
The David Aiken-trained wunderkind tonight improved his record to six wins from nine starts, ripping through a 1:53.1 mile rate to dominate the DNR Logistics Pace at Melton.
Winning reinsman Josh Aiken, son of Honolua Bay’s trainer David Aiken, was predictably pleased, but stressed patience would remain a key ingredient for the talented son of Somebeachsomewhere.
“He has a lot of ability but he’s an inexperienced four-year-old and we just have to guide him along and educate him,” he said.
“There are going to be runs where he’s probably seen to be driven a bit quiet but horses like this you have to see the big picture. We want a four, five, six-year-old for the future.”
Honolua Bay burst on to the scene in September-October last year with three straight wins to kick-start his career.
He won back-to-back races in December, including a victory in a heat of the Vicbred Super Series.
Raced and bred by Lauriston Bloodstock, Honolua Bay is a son of former smart race mare National Gallery.
The father-son Aiken team combined to win the Nutrien Equine Pace tonight also with Max Delight, who rated 1:56.4 over 2240m.
The stable is firing, with four winners in two nights after both The Longest Day and Major Delico saluted at Shepparton last night.