Fifth Stakes Win for Karaka Graduate Kuro (NZ)

Well-performed Karaka graduate Kuro (NZ) (Denman) picked up the fifth stakes win of his career when he won Friday’s A$125,000 Listed Takeover Target Stakes (1200m) at Gosford.

Ridden by Josh Parr for trainer Joe Pride, Kuro produced an irresistible finish to win the sprint feature by a length.

“Kuro was really strong through the line today,” Pride said. “He’s a dry track horse and a pretty fair one.”

Friday’s win was Kuro’s eighth from 27 career starts, boosting his prize-money earnings to A$654,525. His previous stakes successes came in the Listed Starlight Stakes, Heritage Stakes, Brian Crowley Stakes and Mick Dittman Plate.

Kuro was bred by Nearco Stud, who share ownership of the black gelding alongside Champion Thoroughbreds, Tab Rewards, Mrs H M Horton, Mr D Yates, Mr D W Willis, Mr A J Gordon, Mr B S Audet, Sedgewyn, Birdworld, Mr D H Long, Mrs S Denny, Ms C J Bailey and Mr S Thatcher.

Kuro has earned almost four times what he cost at the 2013 Premier Sale at Karaka, where Champion Thoroughbreds paid $170,000 to buy from the draft of Curraghmore.