Kinane (NZ) Stars in Frank Packer Plate

With a brilliant black-type debut in Saturday’s A$140,000 Group Three Cactus Imaging Frank Packer Plate (2000m) at Randwick, three-time Karaka graduate Kinane (NZ) (Reliable Man) made a massive impression on champion jockey James McDonald.

The emerging star was bred by Nearco Stud and was sold for $42,500 at the 2017 National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale out of Curraghmore’s draft, and then fetched $55,000 in Book 2 of Karaka 2018 from Highden Park.

His final trip through the Karaka sale ring was at the 2018 Ready to Run Sale, where respected bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo secured him for $165,000 from the Phoenix Park draft.

A last-start maiden winner at Wyong, Kinane faced a big step up in class on Saturday and made it look easy. He exploded out of midfield and sailed past the front-running Entente (Dundeel) to win by a widening margin of a length and a quarter.

“He gives you an excellent feel, but probably almost the feel of the carnival for me,” McDonald said. “He was pretty special today.

“When I looked up, I was quite surprised how far Entente had skipped away, but my horse responds under riding and he just kept extending, that’s what he did in his maiden.

“Once he got out, he had many lengths to make up and he did it effortlessly. It’s nice to tick off that Group box, and now he can move forward on to bigger and better things. As a four-year-old, I think you’ll see a very special horse.

“He did all his education with Mick Kent, who did a marvellous job. I hope he’s watching, because he’s had something to do with something pretty special.

“This horse will run further than what he’s done now, but he is probably six months away. What he is doing now is just a bonus. He feels so raw, and it’s exciting to unearth such a nice horse going forward.”

Kinane began his career in the stable of part-owner Michael Kent, who took a break from training earlier this year and transferred him into the stable of Chris Waller.

“Full credit to Michael Kent, who sent him to me to train,” Waller said. “Further to that, not only did he say he was going to send him to me to train, but he also said, ‘I reckon this is the right Frank Packer Plate horse,’ and this was three months ago.

“He is a pretty good judge obviously, if not an exceptional judge. He knows his horses. Thanks to him and his owners.

“I hope he (Kent) stays away through all of this coronavirus and leaves him with me for a bit longer yet. He will be nominated for the South Australian Derby (2500m at Morphettville on May 9).”