Coming back in trip from 1100m on debut was always going to be the issue for Sonofkirk but the talented colt by Ole Kirk showed his class with a fast-finishing win at Caulfield.
Having finished third to Miss Ole, another progressive progeny of Ole Kirk, on debut at Flemington, $4.20 betting site favourite Sonofkirk was again slowly away under Jye Mcneil but sliced through the field from last to score by a long head over $5.50 chance Oyster Lane with a gap of 2-1/4 lengths back to Life After Love ($71) in third.
Stable representative Billie Rodda said the camp were hoping Sonofkirk would jump better from barrier three but admitted they hadn’t done any specific barrier training in between runs.
“We purely put it down to just rawness and being his first start,” Rodda said.
“We came here today in hope that he’d probably jump a little bit better. Unfortunately, he didn’t, but it didn’t matter in the end.”
With clear scope to get over more ground, the stable suggested Sonofkirk would likely have a break and look to target early Spring races as a three-year-old.
“It was a phenomenal win. He showed a super turn of foot,” Rodda said.
“We just wanted to see him do something like that in which he has, so I’m not sure what the plan going forward is yet.
“We’ll get him home and ensure that he’s pulled up right, but he’s a lovely two-year-old to be taking into the spring races as an early three-year-old.
Fresh from holidays, Jye McNeil said things didn’t go to plan early but was impressed with Sonofkirk’s late burst.
“I was more hopeful that it was just a bit of greenness at his first start and that he’s more educated from that,” McNeil said.
“His reaction time was a little bit slow, but even his first few strides he just had no speed over 1000 (metres).
“I told the owners we were going to be on speed and be a good chance, and here we were near last, sort of ducking and weaving, but thankfully he was well enough equipped to go on and win the race.”
