Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
On Saturday, the Gary Portelli-trained Kimochi (Brave Smash {Jpn}) showed her tenacity to secure a maiden stakes success in the G2 Light Fingers S., beating a crack field of fillies.
The victory added further appeal to Kimochi, who is set to be offered by Twin Hills Stud at the 2024 Inglis Chairman’s Sale.
To learn more about the daughter of Brave Smash (Jpn), The Thoroughbred Report spoke to her owner, Leo To of Hall of Fame Bloodstock.
Kimochi gives To happiness
The daughter of Brave Smash was given an apt moniker of “Kimochi”, a Japanese word that translates to “good feelings”.
As To explained, with the filly’s sire being the Japanese-bred Brave Smash, who now stands at Yarraman Park Stud, he wanted to acknowledge the sire’s roots in his daughter’s name.
Brave Smash (Jpn) | Standing at Yarraman Park Stud
“Kimochi is a Japanese name translated into English. Many friends have asked me about her name, but I just wanted to give her a Japanese name because she is from Japan,” To told TTR AusNZ.
“‘Kimochi’ basically means good or great feelings or happiness, and that appeals.”
‘“Kimochi’ basically means good or great feelings or happiness, and that appeals.” - Leo To
The filly could hardly be better named; from 10 starts, she has won twice and placed eight more times, resulting in earnings of $897,900.
One more bid and it's a different story
To took us back to the 2021 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale where Kimochi was sourced for $21,000 by Hall of Fame Bloodstock from the draft of Valiant Stud.
Kimochi was from the first crop of dual Group 1 winner Brave Smash, who was at Aquis Farm at that stage. Her dam is the unraced I Am Invincible mare Summer Fun.
Kimochi as a weanling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Summer Fun’s first foal Hole In One (Spieth {NZ}) was a winner in Singapore and purchased by Gameday Thoroughbreds for $45,000 at the 2021 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale before he was sold for $125,000 to Sandy Javier at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast 2YO In Training Sale.
Kimochi is the second foal from Summer Fun, who has an unnamed filly by Invader, a 2-year-old colt by Russian Revolution and foaled a filly by Kia Ora Stud’s Captivant in August and was served by Farnan last spring.
“Merrick Staunton and Bill Wong advised me. These two guys have many years of experience and are experts at looking at horses and finding a racehorse.
“They usually look at the speedier, early maturing horses, but she was one we found at the weanling sale. We felt that she might not be quite as expensive because she was by a first-season sire, Brave Smash. So, we made a plan to try and secure her.”
To was ultimately successful in taking Kimochi home. However, he explained it nearly wasn’t to be as he was at the very end of his budget for the filly.
“Honestly, at $21,000, I told Merrick (Staunton) there were no extra bids. That was my maximum, so I’m glad it worked out.”
“Honestly, at $21,000, I told Merrick (Staunton) there were no extra bids (for Kimochi). That was my maximum, so I’m glad it worked out.” - Leo To
Potential realised
To concedes it wasn’t obvious the ability Kimochi had. The filly had her first race in November at Rosehill, finishing second to Disneck (Trapeze Artist).
Kimochi broke her maiden in March at Randwick-Kensington, beating the smart fillies Kristilli (Hellbent) and Dipsy Doodle (Lonhro) before Kristilli turned the tables in the G2 Percy Sykes S.
“Honestly, I wasn’t sure she could run until December of her 2-year-old year.”
To shared that he wished he had realised sooner, as he would have been prepared to stretch his budget to acquire Kimochi’s dam Summer Fun when she was offered at the 2022 Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale.
Summer Fun | Image courtesy of Inglis
Summer Fun was offered by Lime Country Thoroughbreds in foal to Russian Revolution and was purchased by Kia Ora Stud for $80,000.
“For example, I was the underbidder on her dam, Summer Fun, at the 2022 Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale. I would have bid higher if I had known how good Kimochi was.
“She was in foal to Russian Revolution, and I had evaluated my top bid was around $60,000, but she sold for $80,000. If Kimochi showed more at that stage, I may have up to $100,000.”
“I was the underbidder on her dam, Summer Fun, at the 2022 Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale. I would have bid higher if I had known how good Kimochi was.” - Leo To
Although To missed out on her dam and has elected to sell Kimochi, the memories the daughter of Brave Smash has given him on the track won’t be replaced.
Her race record doesn’t reflect her true quality. Kimochi has rarely raced outside of stakes class. She is consistently facing up to the best of her generation. She has recorded placings in the G1 Thousand Guineas, the G1 Flight S., the G2 Tea Rose S., the G2 Furious S. and the G2 Silver Shadow S.
In winning the G2 Light Fingers S., she was able to deny a filly the quality of Learning To Fly (Justify {USA}) while also asserting another victory over Kristilli.
Also finishing behind her in the Light Fingers were the smart fillies, Tiz Invincible (I Am Invincible), Arctic Glamour (Frosted {USA}), Facile (Trapeze Artist), and Autumn Ballet (The Autumn Sun).
Kimochi | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“It’s really tough to win races, especially in Sydney. We had placed in multiple races already, but Saturday was just her day, and we had a great barrier and ride.
“I was talking to James Fathers, Gary’s racing manager, and we agreed it was a good field, and anybody would be happy to have any one of those fillies; they are top fillies.”
No regrets
To’s Hall of Fame Bloodstock is relatively new to the Australian racing and breeding scene, with his background being primarily in accounting, finance and risk management.
To’s expertise areas have led him to make the commercial decision to offer Kimochi at the 2024 Inglis Chairman’s Sale through the draft of Olly Tait’s Twin Hills Stud.
Kimochi will be offered under Olly Tait's (pictured) Twin Hills Stud banner at the 2024 Inglis Chairman's Sale | Image courtesy of Inglis
Despite Saturday’s success, To has no reservations about letting go of the best horse he has raced to date and wishes nothing but success to whoever is the lucky person or operation walking away from Kimochi.
“It’s quite a commercial decision because of my background in accounting. I am a certified public accountant and have a master’s in finance. I did a lot of risk management measures for my business, and if I were to keep a mare as valuable as her, my operation should be 10 times more than its current size.
“To have a mare of her status with my business profile at the moment is not ideal, so I will let her go with a price. Kimochi is the best horse I’ve raced, and Olly Tait of Twin Hills Stud will consign her at the sale.
“... if I were to keep a mare as valuable as her (Kimochi), my operation should be 10 times more than its current size... so I will let her go with a price...” - Leo To
“I chose Olly Tait’s farm because it was a second home for her early days. He and his team at Twin Hills are wonderful, and I know they will present her well.”
Under his Hall of Fame Bloodstock, he currently has around 10 horses in training in Australia. Several are with Gary Portelli and Kris Lees, alongside a few in Queensland.
However, he is looking to branch out into South Australia. To brings his accounting and risk management experience into every decision he makes for Hall of Bloodstock, with the potential investment in South Australia coming as a result of where his bloodstock is best placed to maximise return.
“I have around 10 (horses), so not huge. We are exploring the possibility of racing more in South Australia, which is just another risk management measure. We try to classify the horses based on their ability and in what jurisdiction they are best suited to show their best and provide the best return.
“Sometimes my team complains that I use my accounting background too much. They say I am too rational and call me a disciplinarian because I keep everything quite serious.
“But it is an expensive business, and you must remain competitive.”
Living the dream
Although May will likely see To’s star race under a different banner, his branch into racing and breeding has been a dream come true.
To’s love of racing and horses began as a young child, but it wasn’t until his 30s that he received an invitation from Anthony Chow of the Hong Kong Jockey Club to join as a member.
He grabbed the opportunity with both hands, and his investments have continued to grow alongside inquiring knowledge about his passion.
“I fell in love with racing as a five or 6-year-old, but I was around 36 when Anthony invited me to join the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
“I realised I may have the chance to own a racehorse in Hong Kong, so I started to look around for agents and the knowledge to help me. I visited Australia a few times to attend the sales and learn about all facets of racehorse training and breeding.
“I started there, and now I just can’t stop. I have built a great team for Hall of Fame Bloodstock and made many contacts. I rely heavily on my team regarding matings as I don’t have my farm; I’m not rich enough.
“I visited Australia a few times to attend the sales and learn about all facets of racehorse training and breeding. I started there, and now I just can’t stop.” - Leo To
“But I have invested in stallion shares and usually work with Olly (Tait), Vinery, Newgate, Widden and Coolmore. They all provide a lot of assistance.”
