Kirwan’s Lane Follows in Brother’s Black Type Footsteps

Just two weeks after the $12,500 Karaka purchase Johny Johny (NZ) (Charm Spirit) won a Listed race at Hastings, his full-brother Kirwan’s Lane (NZ) (Charm Spirit) followed suit across the Tasman with a superb performance in Saturday’s A$200,000 Group Three Richmond Club Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m). 

It was the ninth win of a 30-start career for Kirwan’s Lane, who was bought for $170,000 from Book 1 of Karaka 2018 and has now earned A$525,475 in stakes. Both Kirwan’s Lane and Johny Johny are out of Galway (NZ) (Savabeel), a sister to Group One winner Shillelagh (NZ) (Savabeel) and stakes winners Tullamore (NZ) (Savabeel) and Grazia (NZ) (Savabeel).

Kirwan’s Lane enjoyed a smooth run just behind the pace in Saturday’s Hawkesbury Gold Cup, then stretched out powerfully when released in the straight by jockey Tom Sherry. He quickly reeled in the leaders and went clear to win by a length from Hopeful (Motivator) and strong-finishing fellow Karaka graduate Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel).

“At the top of the straight, I thought it was only a matter of time before he let down,” Sherry said. “Perhaps we hit the front too soon, and he was hesitant to go on with the job as he thought his job was done, but he responded really well to the pressure. It was a tough win.”

Kirwan’s Lane is trained by John O’Shea, who will now try to get the gelding to the inaugural A$2 million The Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick on November 1. The Listed Scone Cup (1600m) on May 13 will give him an early opportunity to qualify.

“We are going to Scone and hopefully we can run one-two there and get into The Big Dance,” O’Shea said. “We really look forward to participating in that race on Melbourne Cup Day.

“I don’t think he was overly comfortable in the ground today, but he goes good enough to get through it. He has a great second-up record, loves a mile and loves (apprentice) Tom Sherry.”