Khutulun shocked her trainer with her progression in her first campaign and the mare appears to have come back better again after a first-up win at Sandown.
The four-year-old mare resumed for the first time since an unplaced effort in the Group One Queensland Oaks during winter, making it three wins from seven starts with her victory in Saturday’s Askin Handicap (1300m).
Khutulun
Trainer Luke Oliver has his sights on a $100,000 race for mares during the Melbourne Cup carnival with Khutulun and believes there’s plenty of improvement to come from her.
“She’s going to be a pretty good horse,” Oliver said.
“She was good last time in. She’s only had one jump-out. She looks horrible in the coat and is a lot overweight. But she’s just a good horse.”
Khutulun, who had 60kg, settled just worse than midfield with cover and jockey Ben Melham was able to get her into the clear on the outside in the straight.
The daughter of Soldier’s Tale finished well to score by a long head over Forgeress with a half length to Spirit Of Soul third.
“We don’t want to give her too busy a spring because it was a big first preparation for her into the winter,” Oliver said.
