Karaka Graduate Kuro (NZ) Captures Starlight Stakes

A drop in weight allowed high-quality Karaka graduate Kuro (NZ) (Denman) to make a welcome return to winning form in Saturday’s A$125,000 Listed Starlight Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill.

The five-year-old gelding, who placed in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) and Galaxy (1100m) earlier in his career, hadn’t won a race since he claimed the Listed Mick Dittman Plate (1200m) in May last year. But he had produced several commendable placed performances in the interim, often under big weights. He had placed in each of his two previous appearances, both carrying 62 kilograms.

On Saturday he dropped to 55.5 kilograms and was right back at his best, taking control of the race in the straight and holding out Nieta (Nicconi) by three-quarters of a length.

“It’s great to see him back in the winners’ circle,” trainer Joe Pride said. “He’s a very talented horse. The race was there to be lost at the 200 when Nieta loomed up, and I just loved the way he fought.”

Kuro has now had 25 starts for seven wins, eight placings and A$581,025 in prize-money for his owners Champion Thoroughbreds, Tab Rewards, Nearco Stud Ltd, 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.

He has earned more than three times what Champion Thoroughbreds paid for him at the 2013 Premier Sale at Karaka. Kuro, who was bred by Nearco Stud, was offered as part of Curraghmore Stud’s 2013 National Yearling Sales Series draft.