Knobelas ready to go the distance in Group 1 Herbie Dyke

The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr-trained Knobelas will tackle 2000m for the first time when she contests the Group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes at Te Rapa on Saturday.

The four-year-old daughter of Belardo is back campaigning in her country of birth and was unlucky not to have snared more of the $1 million prizemoney on offer when third in the Group 3 Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie.

On that occasion, Knobelas finished third to Tuxedo and Hinekaha, the latter whom she meets again on Saturday.

“We think we probably should have won,” Kent Jr said.

“She got held up, got out late and she was good to the line, so I’m sure class-wise she will be up to these gallopers on Saturday.

Knobelas is a $3.60 second favourite behind fellow Australian raider Kingswood ($2.50), who won the Group 1 Zabeel Classic (2000m) on Boxing Day.