Kirikirish Shapes as a Darwin Star
- Monday, 06 August 2007 00:00
Former Caulfield galloper Kirikirish will be sent for a well deserved spell after a brilliant win in the TIO Class 4 Handicap (1100m) at Fannie Bay on Darwin Cup today.
Prepared locally by renowned horseman Nev Connor, Kirikirish held out the early leader Shag Indeed on the inside of the track and then raced away near the turn to set up a winning break.
Already connections are suggesting next year's Palmerston Sprint, won on Saturday by highly regarded stablemate Jade City, or a trip south could be on the agenda next preparation.
"He's a real good horse," Connor commented. "He won easily."
"Under the big weight it was a super effort actually," he added. "He's run very good time too, I think he's just half a second outside the record."
Connor confirmed the four-year-old son of O'Reilly would be sent for a break after four wins from five starts for new connections in Darwin.
"He'll go to the paddock now for a bit of a spell and we'll take it from there," Connor confirmed.
Connor said there was a chance the entire may head back down to the southern states and have a crack at better class races in the future.
"You never know. He came from down there. He was in Peter Moody's stable in Melbourne," Connor reported.
From three starts with Moody, Kirikirish was an easy winner at Kyneton and was sixth on two occasions in town.
At his last run in Melbourne the then three-year-old finished sixth (of seven) behind Saturday's Bletchingly Stakes beaten favourite Haradasun in the listed Wellington Race Club Stakes.
"I got him through a friend of mine down there, Chris from XX Bloodstock and he sells Peter Moody's horses. I happened to get a good one."
Winning rider Steven Ridler echoed the opinions of Connor, saying Kirikirish was a galloper with a bright future.
"He's a pretty handy horse, this horse," Ridler commented. "That's four out of five he's won over the carnival."
"I think he's a good prospect for the Palmerston Sprint next year."
"Nev's going to turn him out for a well deserved spell."
"His last win and that win today were pretty easy."
At his previous outing he romped to a nine and a half length win at Fannie Bay, enough to send him out the hot $1.70 favourite this afternoon.
"He had it won a long way out. He carried the weight well. He's just improved with each run and he's a handy horse."
