The juvenile maiden at Gosford on Wednesday attracted a strong field with two very talented youngsters fighting out the finishing by Snitzel and Not a Single Doubt.
A three-quarter sister to Group II winner Menari, the Mark Newnham trained Not a Single Doubt filly Deniki was the subject of a very popular ‘Juvenile Trial Watch’ story at Breednet (Read it here) and ran right up to expectation doing everything right bar winning.
She led all the way for Tommy Berry and gave a great kick, but could not quite hold off the finishing burst of Aquis owned Snitzel colt Kumasi, who started favourite.
A $500,000 Magic Millions purchase for Aquis from the Baramul Stud draft, Kumasi hit the line hard to beat the filly by a short head with four lengths back to the next horse and the brisk time of 57.16 indicating both horses may be well above average.
Aquis representative Shane McGrath was on course and indicated Kumasi would be heading towards Black Type for his next assignment.
Kumasi is the fifth winner from Wold Joy, a half-sister by Anabaa (USA) to Group II winner Light Up the World from the Christmas Spirit branch of the Denise’s Joy family that has produced Group I winners Bentley Biscuit and Thorn Park.
Kumasi is the ninth Australian two year-old winner this season for champion sire Snitzel, who is leading the two year-old sires list by earnings.