Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
There was plenty of anticipation ahead of Race 2 at Canterbury on Wednesday, with a number of well-bred and expensive 2-year-olds engaged in the 1200-metre maiden for colts and geldings.
One of them was the TDN AusNZ Looking Ahead featured 2-year-old Kandinsky Abstract - the highest-priced yearling sold in Australasia in 2022.
A son of Widden Stud’s brilliant sire Zoustar and the Group 3 victress Solar Charged (Charge Forward), the colt, who was consigned by Widden Stud, was knocked down to Coolmore Australia’s Tom Magnier for $3 million and is raced by their colts syndicate, which includes Sir Peter Vela, Debbie Kepitis, Graham and Linda Huddy, Robert McClure, Kerry and Jenny Pooley, and Joe Poulin.
Entering training with Chris Waller, Kandinsky Abstract is a brother to the three-time Group 1 heroine Sunlight and the Group 3 scorer Sisstar and was bred by Widden Stud, Qatar Bloodstock and Jorshan Investments.
Sent out at $3.90 after showing ability in two trials ahead of his debut, Kandinsky Abstract enjoyed a lovely run in transit. Under star jockey James McDonald, the colt was cruising behind the race leader, Vanquished (Vancouver), upon straightening for home and simply needed an out. Chad Schofield aboard race favourite Vomo Island (Dundeel {NZ}) did his best to keep his main rival pocketed, but McDonald was having none of it and when the duo shouldered into the clear, Kandinsky Abstract dashed clear to score a stylish 1.17l win.
Celestial Legend (Dundeel {NZ}) flashed home to grab second, with Vomo Island third.
Kandinsky Abstract as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
“He’s a horse that’s only just started to show us what he has under the hood and he’s got plenty in front of him,” Coolmore Australia’s Racing and Bloodstock Manager, John Kennedy, told TDN AusNZ.
“His two trials, they were just learning, just days out to give him a bit of confidence and (Wednesday) was all about that as well; we wanted to give him a really good experience.
“We weren’t under any illusions as to what we had, but we didn’t want to put pressure on him.
“There’s plenty more left in the tank, l can tell you.”
John Kennedy | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
McDonald was equally impressed, speaking in glowing terms post-race.
“He was good. He’s a very nice animal. He moves extremely well, he’s got a great demeanour and a bright future,” he told Sky Racing.
“I just loved the way he executed his gallop; he relaxed well in behind the pace and showed a good turn of foot.”
Waller has often used off-season maidens as a springboard into better races, such as the G1 JJ Atkins. In 2013, Kandinsky Abstract’s sire debuted with a maiden win at Canterbury in April, then at his fourth start, he finished fourth in the JJ Atkins behind Romantic Touch (Northern Meteor).
Two years later, Press Statement won a Canterbury maiden in April, before taking out the JJ Atkins two starts later. In 2018, The Autumn Sun won a Randwick maiden in April, before touching off Zousain in the Doomben Group 1 for 2-year-olds, then last year, the Coolmore-owned Political Debate (So You Think {NZ}) was second on debut at Canterbury in April, then finished a close second behind Sheeza Belter (Gold Standard) in the Atkins.
The Autumn Sun | Standing at Arrowfield Stud
Asked if Kandinsky Abstract could be headed north for a winter campaign, Kennedy said it was too soon to know.
“Chris (Waller) is on his way back from Hong Kong. We will see how he (Kandinsky Abstract) pulls up and we will leave the decisions on what we do now down to Chris and the team, but at the moment, we’re very happy and we won’t rule out anything just yet,” Kennedy commented.
Kennedy is confident Kandinsky Abstract will continue to improve during his juvenile season, and he expects the colt will mature and furnish into a special talent for his Classic year.
“He’s a horse with plenty of scope and I’d be very surprised if he doesn’t progress into a high-class 3-year-old,” he remarked.
“He’s (Kandinsky Abstract) a horse with plenty of scope and I’d be very surprised if he doesn’t progress into a high-class 3-year-old.” - John Kennedy
Kandinsky Abstract’s younger sister made $2.6 million at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. The filly was bought by Yulong from the Widden Stud draft.
Solar Charged was again covered by Zoustar last spring after having a colt by him in September.
A midweek metro juvenile double for Zoustar
Kandinsky Abstract was the second of two 2-year-old winners at Canterbury for Zoustar, with Zia also making the perfect start to her career in Race 1 - a 1200-metre maiden for fillies.
Handled by Brett Prebble, Zia, who was the punters’ elect, led from the outset and was never headed. She won by 0.34l, with Makena second making it a Zoustar quinella, while Zoukerette (I Am Invincible) was third.
“She did it with ease,” Adrian Bott, who trains the filly in partnership with Gai Waterhouse, told Sky Racing.
“She’s a real professional. She showed great speed and was able to control the race. She came back underneath Brett, she was nice and relaxed, gave a good kick and was strong late.”
Prebble added: “She’s such a delight to ride, she’s a lovely filly, I’ve done a bit of work on her in the mornings.”
The veteran rider added that he believes the filly will be better on top of the ground (the track was rated a Soft 7).
Zia as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Zia was purchased by her trainers, as well as Kestrel Thoroughbreds and Trilogy Racing, for $360,000 at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. The filly was bred and consigned by her breeder, Glenlogan Park.
Zia is from the stakes performer Soviet Secret (Eavesdropper {USA}) and she is a half-sister to the stakes performer Export (Al Samer), who raced as Unbreakable in Macau.
The filly’s second dam, Russian Babe (Singspiel {Ire}), was winless and is a half-sister to the Group 3 scorer Girl In Flight (Commands).
