Kiwi Sprinter Kuro Still Riding High

Strapping three-year-old colt Kuro (NZ) (Denman) has enjoyed a stellar season earning a third stakes victory in the A$100,000 Listed IPG Connect Mick Dittman Plate (1200m) on Saturday at Doomben.

Winning on debut as a two-year-old, Kuro started the new season, as a three-year-old, with four consecutive wins, including winning the Listed Heritage Stakes and the Listed Brian Crowley Stakes, both at Randwick.

Trained by Joseph Pride, the Denman colt was runner-up in the Group 1 Galaxy Handicap at his last start, his second Group 1 placing following a third in the Group 1 Coolmore Stakes earlier this season.

Starting from a wide barrier, Kuro had to work extra hard to get across for jockey Craig Williams, settling outside pacemaker Miss Cover Girl (Monashee). 

A close battle ensued as the field entered the straight with Kuro finding the lead at the 100m, holding on to win by a long neck over Sarajevo (Lonhro) and  Deiheros (Bon Hoffa), finishing in second and third place respectively.

The triple stakes-winner has now earned A$416,050 in prizemoney for his owners of Champion Thoroughbreds, Tab Rewards, Nearco Stud Ltd, Mrs HM Horton, Mr D Yates, Mr DW Willis, Mr AJ Gordon, Mr BS Audet, Sedgewyn, Birdworld, Mr DH Long, Mrs S Denny, Ms CJ Bailey and Mr S Thatcher.

Kuro was purchased at the 2013 Karaka Premier Sale by Champion Thoroughbreds for $170,000 from Curraghmore Stud. He was the second stakes winner at Doomben purchased from Curraghmore Stud’s 2013 Karaka Premier Sale draft with Ballet Suite (High Chaparral) winning the Listed Princess Stakes.

Ballet Suite and Kuro join Group 1 winner First Seal (Fastnet Rock), Royal Ocean (Fastnet Rock), Maastricht (NZ) (Mastercraftsman) and Rockfast (Fastnet Rock) as stakes performers from Curraghmore Stud's Karaka 2013 draft. 

Bredy by Nearco Stud Limited, the son of Denman is out of stakes placegetter Distinctive Lass (Orientate).

New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale commences today and catalogued at Lot 381 is a filly by Tickets who is from the same family as Kuro.