The Chris Waller-trained Night Of Thunder (IRE) gelding Kukeracha returned to the winner’s stall for the first time since the Group 1 Queensland Derby last May in Saturday’s Listed Tails Stakes (1640m) at Doomben.
Given the run of the race by James Orman, Kukeracha defeated Derulo (Spill The Beans) by a long neck, with Hail Manhattan (Manhattan Rain) a neck back in third.
“You couldn’t have asked for a better run, could you really? Third the fence, and he’s coming off some solid Sydney form,” stable representative Brett Killion said.
“Got here today, he gets further ground, and he loves it up here and raced accordingly.
“I remember the mile here on the way to the Derby; he ran a really good race in his first run up here last winter.
“We will look at a race like the Hollindale.”`
“James gets the best out of horses; he’s a very strong rider. It seemed to take all day, but he got there.”
Carrying the colours of stable stalwart Neville Morgan, Kukeracha advances his record to four four two from 20 starts with earnings of $730,645.
“I feel blessed.. It seems like a long while since old Kuka won, so hopefully, he can win something else up here now,” Morgan said.
Kukeracha was purchased by Mulcaster Bloodstock for $130,000 out of the Waikato Stud draft at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale.
A half-brother to the Group III Keith F Nolan Classic and Listed Scone Cup winner Cameo (Shamardal), Kukeracha is the best of five winners from eight to race out of the royally-bred AP Indy mare Portrait Of A Lady (USA).
A half-sister to dual Group III winner Layman, who placed in the Group 1 Prix Morny and Group 1 Grand Criterium, Portrait Of A Lady (USA) is out of the Nureyev mare Laiyl, a three-quarter-sister to Pastorale the dam of Iffraaj.
Laiyl is a daughter of the Champion 3YO filly in Ireland in 1989, Alydaress (Alydar), winner of the Oaks at Epsom, who hails from the family of Desirable, Shadayid, Park Appeal and Cape Cross.
Godolphin parted with Portrait of a Lady (USA) at the 2017 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, where she was knocked down to Chris Phillips for $40,000 when carrying Kukeracha.
Portrait Of a Lady (USA) has a yearling filly by Ocean Park, which was purchased by Trilogy Racing for $130,000 from the Sledmere Stud draft at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
The daughter of AP Indy was covered by Too Darn Hot (GB) last spring.
