The stable of Ciaron Maher has been on the hunt for a suitable slot to send Kings Valley back to extended distances.

This slot materialises in the Listed Mornington Cup (2400m) on Saturday.

Kings Valley was the initial standby when the entries were announced Wednesday, yet he slipped into the field of 14 when Plymouth pulled out.

Jack Turnbull, the Maher stable’s National Assistant Trainer, commented that Kings Valley’s settling pattern early on will be key to his success.

A month back, he won the Bairnsdale Cup (1600m), and his latest was a ninth in the Group 3 Easter Cup (2000m) at Caulfield, April 4.

“We thought his run was good,” Turnbull said.

“We had to go back from the gate and the way the track was playing it made it difficult and tricky, but the work he put in, we were very pleased with how he went.

“The thing is this week, we’re up in trip from that 2000 (metres) to the 2400 (metres) and the question mark will be whether he relaxes.

“He can be fierce, but he’s not a slow horse. He’s got a very good turn of foot, so we’ve got to work him down a bit into the run.

“I think if he stays on, and relaxes, he’s a good chance as this is his future.”

He notched a win at Sandown over 2100m before, with this being only his second go at 2400m since fifth of six at Caulfield last October.

Kings Valley went into a break immediately post that run and has returned sharply.

“I think he’s got the profile, he’s got the page, and everything else to get 2400 (metres), but it has been a matter of when,” Turnbull said.

“Arguably we could have waited and gone to another benchmark race, but it’s a Caulfield Cup qualifier, a rich race and it gives us a chance.

“We’ve drawn a good gate to smother him up and I think he can run a forward race for us.”

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