Queensland brings out best in Kukeracha
Kukeracha made an overdue return to winning form in his favourite state when he prevailed in a driving finish to claim the G3 Premier’s Cup at Eagle Farm.
The Waikato Stud graduate was last successful in the Listed Tails S. at Doomben a year ago, but a most recent third in the Listed Wagga Cup was a serious indication the Chris Waller-trained representative was back to his best.
Kukeracha was given a sweet run close to the pace by rider James McDonald and, after improving three wide 500 metres from home, maintained a strong gallop for the fifth victory of his career.
“He seems to find good form in Queensland each year and is obviously a G1 Queensland Derby winner over this distance at Eagle Farm,” Waller said.
“His run at Wagga was very good and he was fit and was ready to run a strong 2400 metres.”
Bred by Dr Chris Phillips, Kukeracha was purchased out of the Matamata farm’s Book 1 draft at Karaka in 2019 by bloodstock agent Guy Mulcaster for $130,000.
He is out of the imported AP Indy mare Portrait Of A Lady, also the dam of the G3 Keith Nolan Classic winner Cameo.
Ardrossan’s Group 1-placed darling wins A$300,000 Gr.2 HKJC World Pool Wakeful Stakes
Second and fourth in 1600m Group 1 races in her two previous starts since being purchased privately by OTI Racing and stepping out in Australia under Chris Waller’s racing banner, De Armas (Ardrossan) stepped up in distance at Flemington on Saturday and opened her Australian account in style in the A$300,000 Gr.2 HKJC World Pool Wakeful Stakes (2000m) on Derby Day.
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The Corner with Garry Chittick
The writing of my Corner started many years ago, motivated by an irritation that I felt needed scratching. It was never my intention to make my commentary regular; neither did I intend to reinvent the direction of racing administration. It is both disappointing and ironical that what should be a simple, straightforward business provides a regular need for comment.
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