Cover image courtesy of Darren Tindale
The G3 Maribyrnong Plate is as old as the hills by Flemington standards, and on Tuesday it was won by a Ribchester (Ire) colt with as good a pedigree as the race has exposed in 151 years.
Two-year-old Krakarib, the first foal from the young mare Skagerrak (Dawn Approach {Ire}), herself a half-sister to Hanseatic, won the race for trainer Simon Zahra and jockey Damien Thornton, breaking from the inside draw to post a 0.75l victory.
Krakarib had snatched the lead inside the first parts of the race and, in the dying stages, only the Lindsay Park colt Little Brose (Per Incanto {USA}) got close. The Hellbent filly Awestruck was third, with the winner posting 58.52s for the 1000 metres on a Soft 5.
Two-year-old Krakarib had run sixth in the Listed Maribyrnong Trial in early October, that day running into the Godolphin colt Zulfiqar (Exceed And Excel), who started favourite on Tuesday but managed to run home fifth. Trainer Simon Zahra said he had thought Krakarib could have won on debut last month, but nothing had gone right.
“He just got very defensive that day and over-raced,” the trainer said. “He did everything wrong, and today (Tuesday) I just said to Damien to let him roll and get into a good rhythm. He’s got really good natural speed and let’s use that.”
Zahra said Krakarib had been in-work some time up to Tuesday’s win.
Simon Zahra, trainer of Krakarib | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“He’s been through the system three times and I was pretty confident coming into today that he could run a super race again,” he said.
For Thornton, who had Realm Of Flowers (So You Think {NZ}) in the Melbourne Cup later in the afternoon, it was a perfect start to the day aboard an at-times complicated colt.
“He did a little bit wrong last time and he’s got a few attitude issues,” the jockey said. “If he can iron them out, he’ll be alright. I just wanted to get him out of the gates, get him into a rhythm and keep him happy.”
Krakarib, despite his bloodline, was a relatively cheap purchase for Zahra and his group of owners from the Donald’s Winners syndicate.
“We bought him off the farm for about $30,000 at Spendthrift, straight out of a paddock 12 months ago,” the trainer said. “I said to Donald’s Winners that this was our first 2-year-old runner together and 12 months down the track it was, and it’s a winner, even better.”
“We bought him (Krakarib) off the farm for about $30,000 at Spendthrift, straight out of a paddock 12 months ago.” - Simon Zahra
Zahra mentioned in the raceday broadcast that Krakarib was in line for gelding, but that is likely to be rethought now. It’s possible the horse will head towards a Blue Diamond in the autumn, but the trainer stated he will rest the colt first.
“He’s been in work a long time and we’ll give him a bit of a freshen-up,” Zahra said. “He’s small, there’s not a lot of improvement but he’s got good, natural speed and he’s paid his way for everyone.”
Return on investment
For Ricky Surace Jnr, the racing manager at B2B Thoroughbreds, the Maribyrnong result was a quick pedigree update for one of his resident broodmares.
Skagerrak, the dam of Krakarib, was purchased by B2B Thoroughbreds at this year’s Spendthrift Dispersal Sale, hosted by Magic Millions throughout the National Broodmare Sale. Surace paid $400,000 for her, which was a little more than he was expecting to pay against the mare’s original price of $250,000 when bought by Spendthrift Australia from Godolphin.
Skagerrak, dam of Krakarib, was purchased for $400,000 at this year’s Spendthrift Dispersal Sale, hosted by Magic Millions throughout the National Broodmare Sale | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
On Tuesday, Sydney-based Surace was in Melbourne having breakfast with his parents when Krakarib clattered home in the Maribyrnong Plate.
“I’ve been following this horse pretty closely,” Surace said, speaking to TDN AusNZ. “I’ve formed a bit of a relationship with one of the owners, Alex Vinar, and they’d been telling me for a while that this horse goes quite well. They thought he was a really good chance on his first race but nothing had gone to plan that day.”
Surace admits that while he was watching the Maribyrnong Plate, he wasn’t convinced Krakarib would be its winner at the outset.
“I would be lying if I told you he’d win, but I was hopeful of an improved run, that’s for sure,” he said. “Even just watching him before the race, he definitely isn’t the finished product. He’s quite small and very toey, and I was thinking to myself that I wouldn’t be surprised if this horse ends up gelded. I highly doubt that will happen now with this result and that pedigree.”
“Even just watching him (Krakarib) before the race, he definitely isn’t the finished product. He’s quite small and very toey, and I was thinking to myself that I wouldn’t be surprised if this horse ends up gelded. I highly doubt that will happen now with this result and that pedigree.” - Ricky Surace
B2B purchased Skagerrak in foal to Dirty Work, with that filly being born in the last few weeks and a stunning individual, according to Surace. She’ll be retained by B2B.
Krakarib was the mare’s first foal, and her second was an Omaha Beach (USA) filly that was sold by Spendthrift at the 2022 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale, bought by Justin Bahen for $170,000.
Surace had initial plans to send Skagerrak this year to Written Tycoon, which would fit well with this family, but instead the mare has gone to Newgate Farm for a date with Russian Revolution.
“We bought Skagerrak disregarding her first two foals because we wanted her to have a fresh start,” he said. “Whatever the first few foals did was a bonus, and we definitely got a bonus today. The $400,000 we spent to get her has proved very well-spent.”
“Whatever the first few foals did was a bonus, and we definitely got a bonus today. The $400,000 we spent to get her (Skagerrak) has proved very well-spent.” - Ricky Surace
On paper and in racetrack results, the Skagerrak family is one of the best in the modern Stud Book.
The mare is a half-sister to Rosemont’s resident sire and Blue Diamond winner Hanseatic, and the second dam is Baltics (Fusaichi Pegasus {USA}), a half-sister to Magnus and Helsinge (Desert Sun {GB}), the latter the dam of Black Caviar (Bel Esprit), All Too Hard and Naturale (Bel Esprit). Naturale is the dam of emerging sire Ole Kirk.
“Skagerrak is definitely a mare that you want producing a black-type result,” Surace said. “She’s only a young mare as well, so she’s got a very bright future if Krakarib is her first foal. We can’t wait to see the next couple from her.”
Ricky Surace Jnr | Image courtesy of B2B Thoroguhbreds
Ribchester on the rise
For the Darley sire Ribchester, Krakarib was a first Australian stakes winner since retiring to stud in 2018.
Initially, the four-time European Group 1 winner stood at Darley Australia for two seasons, but he has since continued his shuttle career at Mark Chitty’s Haunui Farm, replacing his sire Iffraaj (GB), who was so successful locally.
As recently as last week, Ribchester had the French Group 3 winner Facteur Cheval (Ire), bringing his worldwide stakes winners to six, including Krakarib. In Australia alone, he’s had 12 horses to the track for seven winners.
Ribchester (Ire) | Standing at Haunui Farm
Ribchester is standing this season at Haunui Farm for NZ$15,000 plus GST. He served 94 mares in 2021 and 78 the year before, with only two crops to date to hit the racetracks worldwide.
