Black-type race best for Kaleidoscope (Pins)

8 January 2016

By Warwick Barr

Matthew Dale will ignore Kaleidoscope’s poor statistics in rain-affected ground to give the richly bred mare her chance to win a race that will cement her future at stud.

The trainer has entered the former New Zealand mare for two races, but he favours running Kaleidoscope at Group Three level in the Belle Of The Turf at Gosford on Friday.

A Rosehill winner at her most recent start, Kaleidoscope is also an acceptor for the McGrath Estates Agent Handicap at Canterbury on Saturday.

“Mares’ black-type races over a mile don’t come around very often, particularly in the off-season,” Dale said.

“And although she looks to be in a very suitable race on Saturday and her heavy track form is a little bit suspect in New Zealand, the Gosford race is too hard to knock back.”

Well-performed gallopers to figure in Kaleidoscope’s pedigree include Xtravagant, the early equal favourite for the New Zealand and Australian Derbys, as well as He’s Remarkable and Maythehorsebemagic.

“She will go to stud in Australia but for the moment we’re just looking to build on her good race record,” Dale said.

Kaleidoscope is a $21 chance in the Belle Of The Turf despite coming from last to score a last-stride win over 1400m at Rosehill last month.

Gosford was rated just into the heavy range on Thursday, a surface on which Kaleidoscope has been unplaced twice during her New Zealand career under Lance O’Sullivan.

Godolphin filly Alegria is the Belle Of The Turf favourite.

It’s an assessment based on her two city placings since resuming as well as a competent record on heavy tracks, which includes wins at Rosehill and Warwick Farm.

The four-year-old heads betting at $3.20 from last-start city winner Ammirata ($4.20).

Destiny’s Kiss has joined Telepathic at the top of Gosford Gold Cup betting to be the best-backed runner for the $150,000 race.

Five of Destiny’s Kiss’ 10 wins have been on heavy-rated tracks and the veteran stayer resumed in eye-catching style when third behind Medcaut at Randwick on Boxing Day.

Oaks Day glory for Waikato Stud-bred Sulek

Waikato Stud enjoyed a special moment on Oaks Day at Flemington on Thursday, when the New Zealand-bred gelding Sulek – by Super Seth out the O’Reilly mare Tiff And Co, saluted on one of the biggest days of the racing calendar and in front of an international crowd. Bred by the farm in partnership with the Dowager Duchess of Bedford, Sulek took out the A$500,000 Cirka Melbourne Cup Carnival Country Final (1600m) for the third and most lucrative win of his career.

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The Corner with Garry Chittick

And so, another Melbourne Cup has been run. Regretfully, Mary and I were not there. I have no idea how many we attended up until COVID, and I miss the Cup week. Victoria prides itself as the sporting capital of Australia; it may be, they certainly know how to create an event.