Wow!
If that performance by 3YO filly KIKU (Zoustar – Atotori) doesn’t have, “I’m going to win a Gr 1 race soon” written all over it, then nothing else in life is ever going to improve.
Simply put, she shouldn’t have won the 1600m Gr 3 Carbine Club Stakes over a mile worth $200k, yet she did and she did coming with giant bounds down the centre of the track, despite the fact she was dog tired and massively up in grade.
She ran by the leader at the 200m in the race favourite THE IRISHMAN (Tavistock – Zeranti) who is a talented racehorse, and did it with gusto.
He is headed after today’s race to continue his career in Hong Kong and he was perfectly ridden.
Those watching Kiku could not have thought the same thing.
She was back in last place by three wide, right from the start.
And she stayed out there, many worried that rider Tommy Berry had slaughtered her hopes.
Then on the home turn, as POLAND (So You think – Sun Song) made his move as they straightened, he bumped into Kiku, seemingly taking the wind out of her sails.
They smashed into each other again at the 300m.
Poland eventually came home hard to get 3rd but once Kiku picked herself back up she gave him a cold with the way she whizzed past him. She had her sights set on the leader and she got him in time too.
Berry said, “It was a massive effort from her today.
“For most of the race she was three wide and she has a very big future in store. I just loved her acceleration, the way she put them away and she eased off once she hit the lead.”
That was her 4th win from eight starts and she now has earned $242,000 in prize money.
She cost $300,000 as a yearling but is worth that and more now that she is a Black Type winner.
Trainer Chris Waller added, “She is a very decent filly.”
