Karaka Graduate Kolding Thriving Ahead of Golden Eagle

Media Release - Wednesday October 30

New Zealand-bred galloper Kolding is on song for the A$7.5 million Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday, according to jockey Glenn Boss.

Kolding - image Steve Hart

Kolding - image Steve Hart

The Chris Waller-trained gelding has won two of his three starts this campaign, including his last start heroics in the Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m), but it was his 1030m trial at Rosehill last week that really has Boss fizzing.

“I had the opportunity to trial him last week and I felt that he has come on since the Epsom,” he said.

“Physically he looked amazing, but mentally he just felt really on the job. He gave me all the right signs as a jockey, going towards a major race, that you want to see and feel.”

Boss is unbeaten on the son of Ocean Park after piloting him to victories in the Gr.3 Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m) and Epsom, and he has taken a lot of confidence from the form that has come out of the latter race.

Runner-up Te Akau Shark was impressive when running third in the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) on Saturday, while Nettoyer has subsequently won the Gr.3 Angst Stakes (1600m).

“This will be his fourth run in this prep, so he should do nothing but improve. He’s just a good, genuine racehorse,” Boss said.

“He’s been a revelation since he has been gelded. He is one of our better four-year-olds now and that form (in The Epsom) has been franked. There has been a lot of good form to come out of the Epsom this year.

“He is going to be pretty popular on the weekend, but he’s going to have to go up a notch because this is a really serious race.”

While Boss is confident in his charge, he is wary of a 7kg rise in weight from Kolding’s Epsom run.

“This is probably going to be a stronger race than the Epsom and the weight difference is a big thing,” Boss said.

“Brutal is getting closer to his better distance now and Arcadia Queen is definitely getting towards her distance. It is going to be a really intriguing race and I am really looking forward to it.”

Kolding will jump from barrier four and has been installed as a $5-equal second favourite with fellow Kiwi-bred galloper Brutal (barrier 17) by bookmakers, while Arcadia Queen (barrier five), to be ridden by James McDonald, has been marked as a $2.80 favourite for the inaugural running of the Golden Eagle.

Kolding was purchased out of Wentwood Grange’s 2017 Premier Yearling Sale draft for $170,000 by bloodstock agent Guy Mulcaster. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Out of the Park strikes again
Just two months since her purchase off gavelhouse,com, Out of the Park has repaid her $14,000 purchase price and more after striking up two wins and a placing in just four starts.
Pride of Dubai Mare Wins Listed Victoria Gold Cup
A Group I winner last spring for Yulong when winning the Group I MRC Might and Power Stakes over Mr Brightside, Deny Knowledge (IRE) looks primed for another good campaign with a first up win in the Listed MRC Victoria Gold Cup (2000m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Tasmanian Yearling Sale Nicks and Links
The Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale is on Monday so here’s some of the hot nicks and links you’ll need.
Oceanex Keeps the Ball Rolling for Ocean Park
Karaka 2017 graduate Oceanex (NZ) (Ocean Park) sent her value skyrocketing with a determined victory in Saturday’s $300,000 Group 2 TAB Matriarch Stakes (2000m) at Flemington.
Unbeaten 2YO Sunrays Leads Saturday Hellbent Metro Treble
Hellbent has been churning out the winners and had a metropolitan treble on Saturday with fleet footed two year-old filly Sunrays making it three wins on the trot when taking out the $125,000 BRC QTIS Jewel Prelude (1110m) at Doomben on Saturday.
Oceanex Keeps the Run Going for Ocean Park
We recently stated that few stallions have done more to advance their cause in recent months than Waikato Stud’s Ocean Park and his four-year-old daughter Oceanex didn’t let us down when she proved too good in the $300,000 Group II Matriarch Stakes (2000m) at Flemington.
Kiwi Bred Looking to Give Waller The Gong
The lure of a one million purse has been too attractive for leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller.
Talented Trapeze Artist Gelding Returns a Winner!
Winner of the Group III ATC Carbine Club Stakes last autumn as a colt, talented Trapeze Artist four year-old Ducasse returned to the races as a gelding at Rosehill on Saturday and quickly found his best form to win the Benchmark 100 event over 1400m.
Promising 2YO Winner for Second Season Dubious
Dubious juvenile Pretty Dubious looks to have more to offer after an impressive second start win at Doomben on Saturday in the Sky Racing QTIS Jewel Prelude.
Catalogue Updates From Weekend Stakes Racing
There have been some solid updates to yearling sale catalogues over the weekend from stakes racing including a filly at MM Adelaide that is now a half to a stakes winner, and the very promising West Of Swindon’s half-sister at Inglis Easter.