KIBOU, the talented three-year-old with form around some of the best of his generation including Golden Mile and Osipenko, continues his comeback in the Listed $160,000 Civic Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Trainer Adrian Bott confirmed Kibou will take on the older horses in the feature sprint following his impressive return to racing earlier this month when beaten narrowly by Iowna Merc after conceding the winner 4kg and race fitness.
“We are keen to run Kibou in the Civic Stakes,” said Bott, who trains in partnership with Hall of Famer Gai Waterhouse.
“There is some good improvement in the horse going into Saturday’s race where he should get in with a light weight.”
Kibou has missed most of the season due to a knee issue (bone chips removed) after he defeated subsequent Caulfield Guineas winner Golden Mile in the Group 3 Up And Coming Stakes back in August.
All eyes will be on Kibou in next Saturday’s Civic Stakes Picture: by Jenny Evans/Getty Images
Earlier that same campaign, Kibou had defeated Osipenko with the latter training on to win the Hobartville Stakes and Frank Packer Plate.
Promising two-year-old Royal Tribute made his race debut the same day of stablemate Kibou’s comeback with a similar result, finishing a close second to unbeaten Ozzmosis.
But Bott said Royal Tribute won’t be going back to the races on Saturday as the stable has spring carnival ambitions for the colt.
“We’ve elected to give Royal Tribute a short break as we want to look at some spring targets with him,” Bott said.
“Obviously we held the colt in high regard going into his first start and he bumped into a very good horse but I’m sure he will improve a lot with that run.”
Bott and Waterhouse continued their best-season since forming a training partnership seven years ago when Zoumon took out the McKell Cup at Rosehill last Saturday, giving the trainers their 30 stakes win of the season which includes four at Group 1 level for stable earnings of $18.2 million prizemoney.
Zoumon is Caloundra Cup bound following his dashing Rosehill victory on Saturday Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images
The tough frontrunning stayer Zoumon is likely to be given his chance to chase more big-race success in the Listed $300,000 Caloundra Cup (2400m) at the Sunshine Coast on July 1 and the Listed $200,000 Grafton Cup (2350m) at Grafton on July 13.
“Zoumon takes bad luck out of the equation, he puts himself up on the speed and is proving very hard to get past, he’s always in for the fight,” Bott said.
“I think previously 2000m was his best distance but he is very relaxed now, we have taken the blinkers off him and he likes to flow along at a genuine tempo.
“We will step him out to 2400m for the Caloundra Cup and the Grafton Cup, they are the main options for him off the back of his McKell Cup win.”
YOU CAN BET ON IT
Zoumon was heavily backed from $3.20 to $2.70 clear TAB Fixed Odds favouritism before his win in the McKell Cup.
Some of the bigger bets on the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained stayer included $4,000 at $2.70, $3,000 at $2.40 multiple times and $2,000 at $3.90.
Chris Waller’s Vienna Princess (race 8) opened at $7 and firmed to $6 behind favourite Mirra View ($4.80) before her dominant wins.
Vienna Princess was well-supported with bets of $2,000 each way at $6/$2.30 and multiple bets of $1,500 at $5.50 and multiple $1,000 bets at $6.
FIVE TO FOLLOW
Grebeni (race 4) was left in front almost by default but showed his versatility to lead throughout and still score with something in reserve. He’s reeled off three city wins in succession and deserves his chance at stakes level in the Winx Guineas in two weeks.
Grebeni winning for favourite backers is headed towards the Winx Guineas Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images
Tutta La Vita (race 1) settled outside the leader and had to work hard to break her maiden. She was particularly strong over the final 200m and was holding her rivals on the line. Promising filly who is likely to be set for the Flight Stakes in spring.
Fawkner Park (race 5) has only had three Australian starts and been an impressive winner in each. He didn’t get a lot of galloping room in the straight but still ran outstanding sectionals to win. Miracle Spin had to sustain a long run from back in the field and did well for finish second.
Tintookie (race 6) ran a blinder first-up, storming home from last to run a close third to Brudenell. This lightly-raced Brad Widdup-trained filly is building an admirable record of consistency and can be placed to advantage in coming weeks.
Gracilistyla (race 10) was a luckless fourth for the second start in succession this campaign. The grey was in an awkward position on the rail near last coming into the straight and was held up for a run most of the straight before bursting through late. He is ready to win.
CRUNCH TIME
Fawkner Park (race 5) was held up for a run in the straight but when he found a gap between runners he sprinted the final 200m in a swift 11.09s, the best of the meeting, to score an impressive win.
Fawkner Park maintaining his unbeaten Australian record at Rosehill on Saturday Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images
Miracle Spin (race 5) broke 33s for his final 600m with a 32.97s split which is some gallop at the end of a 2000m race to finish a close second behind Fawkner Park.
Tintookie (race 6) settled back at the rear of the field then ripped home her final 600m in a brilliant 32.68s, the best of the meeting. Her closing 200m sectional of 11.14s was the second quickest of the day.
Zoumon (race 7) was able to sustain a strong gallop leading all the way in the McKell Cup, recording four successive sub-12s 200m splits including his 11.6s final sectional to keep his chasing rivals at bay.
Vienna Princess (race 8) showed her class to shoulder 58.5kg but still sprint her final 600 in 33.87s to win by a widening margin of nearly two lengths.
TURF TALK
“It wasn’t pretty for a short-priced favourite. But Kerrin (McEvoy) took bad luck out of the equation and having her (Tutta La Vita) further forward probably took away a little from her finishing sprint. Confident jockeys make confident decisions,” trainer Chris Waller said.
“We have a great spring team. There are our three-year-olds like Zougotcha, Linderman, Osipenko, our two-year-olds like Shinzo and Militarize. They are the proven ones and we have another wave we have held back. We are in a much stronger position this winter compared to last winter, without a doubt,” Waller again.
“I told Kerrin you are on your own! There was no tempo on paper and I said to Kerrin if they are going at a snail’s pace, I don’t care if you go to the front,” said Gerald Ryan, trainer of Grebeni.
“Full credit to the horse, he is so, so tough. There was pressure on him throughout, they kept him honest but he seemed comfortable in front. Tim (Clark) knows the horse well, he didn’t panic when there was pressure on him, he had faith in the horse to keep rolling,” said Adrian Bott, trainer of Zoumon.
“He is three from three now here in Australia so he is really exciting for (owners) Bennett Racing,” said Annabel Neasham, trainer of Fawkner Park.
STEWARDS SAY
Dee Stormed (race –1) had been loaded into the barriers when the colt reared and got both forelegs over the barrier partition. He was a late scratching on veterinary advice.
Goomeri (race 3) was slow to begin and then raced extremely wide and without cover. A post-race veterinary examination revealed the gelding to be lame (3/5) in the near-foreleg.
Vegas Raider (race 6) began awkwardly and lost ground. From a wide barrier was shifted behind runners in the early stages. From the 400m to the 200m was held up and unable to be fully tested.
Ringarosa (race 8) began awkwardly and lost ground (two lengths). From a wide barrier she was shifted behind runners in the early stages. She was held up for clear running in the early part of the straight then near the 150m was steadied when disappointed for a run between Mirra View and Anagain. Ringarosa then raced in restricted room between those runners from that point and, as a consequence, could not be fully tested.
Daralina Belle (race 8) was held up behind Zorocat approaching the 200m then a short distance later was checked from the heels of that runner. Daralina Belle then was held up until passing the 100m where the mare was shifted to the inside of Zorocat.
NSW RACING – THE WEEK AHEAD
What’s on in NSW racing this week:
Monday: Newcastle Beaumont
Tuesday: Nowra, Lismore
Wednesday: Canterbury Park
Thursday: Gosford
Friday: Tamworth
Saturday: Royal Randwick, Newcastle
Sunday: Albury, Murwillumbah