Saturday summary: Kovalica dominates Derby

Cover image courtesy of Michael McInally

Kovalica proves to be the real deal

Champion trainer Chris Waller looks to have unearthed another superstar in the form of a 3-year-old gelding Kovalica (NZ), who ran out a commanding winner of the G1 Queensland Derby, providing a fourth individual Group 1 winner for his Waikato Stud-based sire Ocean Park (NZ).

Proving his mettle with a meritorious third in the G1 Doomben Cup against older opposition last start, Kovalica rated as the horse to beat in Queensland’s Classic, and with Champion Jockey James McDonald back in the saddle Kovalica won as he pleased with no doubts over his ability to run out 2400 metres.

He recorded a 1.95l victory over Fame (Manhattan Rain) and Stroke Of Luck (Fastnet Rock) finishing third.

It’s the third successive year that a 3-year-old carrying the New Zealand suffix has claimed the G1 Queensland Derby and the second Derby victory in three years for the prominent Brisbane owner Neville Morgan.

Morgan is also in the ownership of Kukeracha (NZ) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), who won in the G1 Queensland Derby in 2021, and fittingly claimed the G3 Premier’s Cup earlier on the card at Eagle Farm on Saturday - handing Waller a treble after he took the opening event on the card, a handicap, with 3-year-old Maurice (Jpn) colt Yasuke.

Winning jockey James McDonald gave Kovalica a notable comparison in the aftermath of the race.

“It was like riding Verry Elleegant that time in the Melbourne Cup, everything just went right. Kovalica got into a beautiful rhythm the moment we left the stalls and from about the 1000 metre mark I thought it was his time to do a little bit of work and it was his time to shine.

“I hope they run him The Q22.”

Ocean Park will stand the 2023 breeding season at Waikato Stud for a fee of NZ$30,000 (plus GST).

Think About It becomes a Group 1 hero

Coolmore Stud’s So You Think (NZ) made it a round 10 of Group 1 winners on Saturday when his remarkable 4-year-old son Think About It captured the Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300 metres) on his first attempt at the elite level.

Winning his eighth race from a total of nine lifetime starts, Think About It was returning from a break for trainer Joe Pride having won the G3 Liverpool City Cup last time out.

Charging down the centre of the track under regular rider Sam Clipperton on Saturday, he claimed the scalp of two seasoned Group 1 campaigners - and winners - who filled the placings.

Getting the better of Rothfire (Rothesay) with 100 metres to run, Think About It did enough to deny Converge (Frankel {GB}), who was flashing home late up the inside.

“He’s the sort of horse that we all aspire to,” Clipperton said. “He potentially could do wonders for my career… he’s just got so much untapped ability.

“You see him in the yard and you think, ‘My gosh, what a mess.’ But, he never sweats up, that’s just him, he’s just a big wrecking ball.

Despite having just won a Group 1 weight-for-age race, Clipperton highlighted the race as the ideal stepping stone into the G1 Stradbroke H., at which he may still find improvement according to his trainer.

“I just knew he would find what he needed to find,” Pride said. “He’s just an amazing horse, and to think, he’s not fully furnished yet, so he’s only going to improve.”

It’s been a remarkable journey to the top for his Proven Thoroughbreds ownership group; the syndicator purchased Think About It for $70,000 at the 2020 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale and he has now amassed a little over a million in prizemoney.

Currently fourth in the Australian Sires’ Premiership, So You Think took reigning Champion Sire I Am Invincible all the way to the line in last year’s table. Coolmore raised his fee to a career high for the upcoming breeding season, which will see him stand for $99,000 (inc GST).

Hawaii Five Oh Stradbroke Handicap bound

A ticket to the $3 million G1 Stradbroke H. was up for grabs for the 3-year-olds in the G3 Fred Best Classic at Eagle Farm on Saturday and was claimed by the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained blueblood Hawaii Five Oh (I Am Invincible).

A brother to the talented but ill-fated Libertini, the 3-year-old colt took another step up to win his second of three races since joining Tulloch Lodge.

Finding clear room under Nash Rawiller with 400 metres to run, Hawaii Five Oh steadily gained momentum at the finish of the 1400 metre contest, and had more than enough of a margin at the line to deny a fast-finishing Yellow Brick (The Mission) by 0.75l.

“We’re in the fortunate position to get the opportunity to train such a lovely horse,” co-trainer Adrian Bott said.

“He’s always had the ability, he had a great grounding… and we’re in a fortunate position to capitalise on the hard work done,” Bott added, noting that he expects some improvement in fitness from the colt as he heads now straight to the Stradbroke on June 10.

Moved by owner/breeder Gerry Harvey from Michael Freedman earlier this year, Hawaii Five Oh had some smart form for his previous trainer behind subsequent Group 1 winner Major Beel (NZ) (Savabeel), and won his first stakes race when second-up for the Waterhouse and Bott team in the G3 Hawkesbury Guineas.

Comrade Rosa scores valuable victory

The closing event on the G1 Queensland Derby and Kingsford-Smith Cup day was the Listed Helen Coughlan S. at Eagle Farm on Saturday for fillies and mares.

The Listed Helen Coughlan went the way of Queensland’s premier trainer Tony Gollan claiming the quinella with his 4-year-old mare Comrade Rosa (Capitalist) partnered by Ryan Maloney filling the major spot denying her 5-year-old stablemate Salateen (I Am Invincible).

Comrade Rosa is the fifth foal from the Redoute’s Choice mare No Looking Back. She was a two-time winner including the Listed Carrington S. and placed in the G1 Blue Diamond S. and the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic.

No Looking Back is a daughter of the Dehere (USA) mare Mirror Mirror who claimed the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic and the Listed Gimcrack S.

In addition, No Looking Back is a half-sister to Chauffeur (Snitzel) a placegetter in the G3 San Domenico S. and the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic.

No Looking Back was offered by Julian Blaxland's Blue Sky Premium Consignment in foal to Written By and selling to M & C Bloodstock for $40,000 at last week’s Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.

The family of Comrade Rosa enjoyed a productive day at Eagle Farm on Saturday as Hawaii Five Oh (I Am Invincible) who scored the G3 Fred Best Classic is part of the family.

Furthermore, this is the family of the Group 1 winners Seabrook (Hinchinbrook) and Cool Aza Beel (NZ).

Comrade Rosa was a $100,000 yearling purchase by Peachester Lodge from the draft of Kitchwin Hills at the 2020 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

She becomes the 13th stakes winner for her sire Capitalist, who will stand the 2023 breeding season at Newgate Farm for $77,000 (inc GST).