Kukeracha (NZ) Stars in Queensland Again

Something about Brisbane at this time of the year brings the very best out of Karaka graduate Kukeracha (NZ) (Night Of Thunder), who took out Saturday’s A$130,000 Listed TAB Tails Stakes (1640m) at Doomben.

Bought by Mulcaster Bloodstock for $130,000 from Book 1 of Karaka 2019, Kukeracha has earned A$730,645 in a 20-start career, headed by a triumph in the Group One Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm last May.

The gelding had gone winless in six starts in New South Wales since then, but a return to the Sunshine State on Saturday turned things around.

Ridden by James Orman, Kukeracha raced handily just behind the speed and outsprinted his opposition in the straight, scoring by just under half a length and with a bit more up his sleeve.

“I was able to get into a spot behind the leaders and got a lovely run, then came off their backs and he was too strong,” said Orman, who had his first ride on Kukeracha on Saturday.

Kukeracha is trained by Chris Waller for Queensland owner Neville Morgan, who was delighted by Saturday’s return to form.

“It’s been a long time since Kuka last won, nearly 12 months, so we couldn’t be happier,” he said. “He was probably unlucky over the early part of this year, hopefully we can now win something else up here.”

According to Waller’s Queensland stable foreman Brett Killion, Kukeracha will likely get that opportunity in the A$500,000 Group Two Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast on May 7.

“He loves it up here and raced accordingly,” Killion said. “He’s coming off some solid Sydney form, got here today over a longer distance, and you couldn’t have asked for a better run.

“I remember he ran a really good race over a mile in his first run up here last winter, on his way to the Derby. Now we’ll look at a race like the Hollindale.”

Kukeracha was bred by long-time Waikato Stud veterinarian Dr Chris Phillips and is a half-sister to multiple stakes-winning Australian mare Cameo (Shamardal), and closely related to the Group One performer and sire Layman (Sunday Silence).