Kievann ready for Moonee Valley assault

All the boxes are ticked ahead Kievann’s return to the races at Moonee Valley.

He has an in-form apprentice taking 2kg off his burden, a good barrier draw, a good first-up record and importantly a good Moonee Valley record.

The Stephen Brown-trained gelding makes his reappearance in the William Hill Handicap (1200m) on Saturday in which he will be ridden by Ben Allen from barrier two.

The six-year-old was spelled after finishing last at the track in July, the third run of a campaign which began with two third placings.

Kievann ran second in the corresponding race a year ago, beaten three-quarters of a length by Written Up who is among his rivals in Saturday.

Brown said as Kievann got older he was not standing up to the rigours of racing as well as he did as a younger horse with his best performances now coming early in a preparation.

“He’s been going along nicely but as he’s getting older I think he’s feeling his legs a little bit,” Brown said.

“I think that’s why his form goes off after two or three runs.

“Hopefully we can get a win or two out of him as he was pretty unlucky last preparation.

“Craig Williams ran third on him here two starts back when he probably should have won.

“He had the outside barrier and had to lead on him.”

Brown expects Kievann to make use of his barrier on Saturday.

“We’ve got a good barrier, a good kid riding him and he races well first-up, especially at Moonee Valley,” Brown said.

“We’ll most likely be going forward and he definitely won’t be lacking anything with the jockey.

“I think he’s a real talent.”

Kievann is rated a $10 chance in an open market headed by Chase The Horizon at $4.40.