Kiwi Kuro Breaks Record in Sydney

Kiwi three-year-old Kuro (NZ) (Denman) sped to victory in the Listed A$100,000 Schweppes Heritage Stakes (1100m) at Randwick in race-record time on Saturday.

Kuro (NZ) speeding to success in the Listed Schweppes Heritage Stakes at Randwick.

Entering the race as winner of his previous two starts, which were also his only two starts as a three-year-old, for trainer Joe Pride, Kuro was sent out race-favourite by punters in the seven-horse field.

Beginning from barrier five, Kuro found himself three-wide early in the race and having to work hard to find the lead for rider Blake Shinn. After pulling his way to the front, the son of Denman couldn’t cross Klammer (Snitzel) on his inside.

Kuro proved he was a class above his rivals in the straight as he sprinted away from the field to convincingly win by 1.8 lengths in a time of 1:02:37 from Echo Gal (Stratum) and Klammer hanging on for third.

“It was a really impressive win,” commented Pride. “He has taken a big leap forward this preparation which is exciting. I am convinced he is going to be a much better horse in the autumn, he is a really exciting colt.

“The plan is to run him in another Listed race in a month then he will go to the paddock after that and come back in the autumn to run in better class races again.”

Saturday’s victory was Kuro’s fourth win from six starts and has earned $149,050 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 Syndicate, Birdworld Syndicate, Mr D H Long, Mrs S Denny, Ms C J Bailey & Mr S Thatcher.

Bred by Nearco Stud Ltd, Kuro is out of the Listed placed mare Distinctive Lass (Orientate), a granddaughter of Special (Habituate), a winner of three Group 1 races over sprint distances and dam of two stakes winners.

Jason Abrahams’ Champion Thoroughbreds purchased Kuro for NZ$170,000 at the 2013 Karaka Premier Sale from Gordon Cunningham’s Curraghmore Stud. Cunningham’s operation continued a hot run of form with further success at Randwick when fellow Curraghmore Stud and Karaka graduate First Seal (Fastnet Rock) won the Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes later in the day.

“Jason has had a bit of luck buying out of Karaka and we will be back there next year no doubt,” said Pride.

It was a superb day for Karaka graduates at Randwick with Sacred Falls (NZ) (O’Reilly) racing to his fourth Group 1 victory in the Group 1 George Main Stakes to go with the victories of Kuro and First Seal.