Winless in 12 starts since capturing the Listed Mick Dittman Plate at Doomben in May 2015, classy sprinter Kuro bounced back to his best under Jay Ford in Saturday's $125,000 Listed Starlight Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens.
Placed at the highest level in The Galaxy and Coolmore Stud Stakes at three, Kuro signalled a return to his best form when runner-up at his two runs this campaign.
After a stint with Lee and Anthony Freedman last season, the black son of Denman was returned to Joe Pride at Warwick Farm.
"He'd been gradually improving and it's just great to get him back in the winner's circle," Pride said.
"He's a very talented horse. Great ride by Jay from the wide barrier.
"Just put him
in the spot. The race was there to be lost at the 200 when
Nieta loomed up and I just loved the way he fought.
"He'll creep up in the weights again so it might get to a point where we just go let's put him aside and concentrate on something in the autumn with him but there are no grand plans.
Given a gun ride by Ford, Kuro safely held the challenge of the John Thompson-trained favourite
Nieta (Nicconi) by three-quarter of a length with Peter and Paul Snowden's
Princefamous (Fast 'n' Famous) a half-length back in third. (photo Steve Hart)
"He's in a really happy place at the moment," Ford said.
"That's been showed by his two runs back this prep. He really responded gamely when
Nieta challenged him and he was actually pulling away late on the line."
A $120,000 purchase by Champion Thoroughbreds from the Curraghmore Stud draft at the 2013 NZB Premier Yearling Sale, Kuro advances his overall record to 7 wins, 3 seconds and 5 thirds from 25 starts with earnings of $581,025.
He is the second foal of the stakes-placed Orientate mare Distinctive Lass a granddaughter of the champion sprinter Special (Bluebird) who is also the
granddam of the triple Group 1 winner Bomber Bill (Air de France).
Purchased by Nearco Stud for $140,000 out of the Yarraman Park draft at the 2011 Inglis Easter Broodmare sale, Distinctive Lass had a yearling Ocean Park colt sell to Champion Thoroughbreds for $75,000 at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling sale in April. The now 2yo colt has been named Southern Lad.
Distinctive Lass returned to Australia in 2014. She has a yearling filly by All Too Hard who will be consigned to the 2017 Magic Millions Yearling Sale by Bhima Stud.
After being covered by Snitzel last spring, Distinctive Lass returned to New Zealand.
Denman (photo Mark Smith) has 9 yearlings catalogued for the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling sale and the same amount for the Inglis Classic Yearling sale.
