3 minute read
Son of Ocean Park just holds on in All-Aged Stakes
The Chris Waller-trained Kolding (5 g Ocean Park - Magic Star by Danzero) bounced back to something like his best when he showed bravery in spades to land a thrilling edition of the All Aged Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) at Randwick on Saturday - the gelding’s third elite level victory.
Last seen finishing 10th in George Ryder Stakes (Gr 1, 1500m) on March 27, the gelding’s autumn campaign has somewhat been thwarted by the wet tracks, but he showed in drier conditions he was still a force to be reckoned with, beating the James Cummings-trained Savatiano (Street Cry) by a nose, while her Doncaster Mile (Gr 1, 1600)-winning stablemare Cascadian (New Approach) was another head away in third.
Ridden by Brenton Avdulla, Kolding and Savatiano edged clear over the final 200 metres in a two-horse war and the Godolphin mare looked to get the better of him before Kolding kicked back on the line to nab her by a short half-head.
This latest win sees the gelding's record move to 11 victories from 30 starts, including wins in the Epsom Handicap (Gr 1, 1600m) and lucrative Golden Eagle (1500m) in 2019, while he also took out this season’s George Main Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m). His prize-money earnings of $6,352,200, means he enters the list for the top 20 prize-money earners in Australian racing history.
Waller admitted he feared Savatiano had the race in the bag.
"I did, and then I could just gradually see him coming and I was thinking, this time normally in a prep he's running over 2000 metres so he's going to be strong late, these are the sorts of things rushing through your mind, your hopes at the 100 metre mark," Waller said.
Kolding was freshened for a distance drop after finishing unplaced in the George Ryder Stakes and struck his preferred firm track on Saturday.
“Ground-breaking horse with a Golden Eagle, Epsom and in some pretty good colours as well. Obviously he's a horse that needs good tracks,” said Waller.
“I think he probably doesn't get a lot of credit when he's been getting beaten on wet tracks, which has been most of this preparation in fact. He is a much better horse in Sydney on the right leg. He's a good horse and he showed it today."
Purchased by Waller’s bloodstock agent Guy Mulcaster for NZ$170,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale in 2017 from the draft of Wentwood Grange draft, the son of Waikato Stud’s Ocean Park (Thorn Park) is out of the unplaced Danzero (Danehill) mare Magic Star.
Magic Star is also the dam of Group 2 winner Sampson (Dubai Destination) and Listed scorer Miss Upstart (Snippetson), while she is also a half-sister to Make Mine Magic (Canadian Silver).
Kolding is one of three top-flight winners for Ocean Park with the others being Tofane and Ocean Billy, while the stallion has sired 14 winners in total.
