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Kahma Lass storms to victory in New Zealand 1,000 Guineas
The Oaks Stud-based sire Darci Brahma (Danehill) chalked up his 11th top-flight winner and 50th stakes winner on Saturday as the Jamie Richards-trained Kahma Lass (3 f ex Distinctive Lass by Orientate) took out the New Zealand 1,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) at Riccarton.
Last seen finishing second in the Soliloquy Stakes (Gr 3, 1400m), the Cambridge Stud-raced three-year-old filly showed a potent turn of foot to beat Miss Tycoon Rose (Written Tycoon) by three-quarters of a length, while the winner’s stablemate Cornflower Blue (Savabeel) was another nose away in third.
“It all worked out pretty well as they went no tempo,” Richards said.
“She was back getting on heels at the half mile but she got the run through them without having to come to the outside, which was probably the winning of the race.
“She’s a good filly and we had the right man on board as he told me he needed the win in the Welcome Stakes on Avonallo which put him right.
“We get a big thrill out of winning races for Brendan and Jo as they have been fantastic supporters.
“She’d done really well and had gone the right way since her Te Rapa run,” Richards said.
“Her work had been very good and she arrived down from Matamata in good order with everything going to plan.
“We knew she was pretty sharp when she trialled up as a two-year-old but she had to get through some maturity issues.
“That’s the great thing about Brendan and Jo, they let you give them time when it’s needed and they have reaped the rewards here.”
Brendan Lindsay was equally vehement in his praise for the filly: “Wasn’t that fantastic,” Lindsay said.
“I could see she was going well at the top of the straight, but what a ride, it’s pretty bloody exciting alright.
“We thought we had a chance but there were plenty of good fillies in the race so we’re just delighted to end up on top.”
The filly was purchased by David Ellis for NZ$290,000 from Book 1 at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka National Yearling Sale from the Curraghmore Stud draft and she is out of stakes-placed mare Distinctive Lass (Orientate), making her a half-sister to Singapore Listed winner Distinctive Darci, while she is also a half-sister to prolific stakes scorer Kuro (Denman).
The filly’s third dam is three-time Group 1 winner Special (Habituate), whose nine winners are headed by Listed-winning pair Stavka (Xaar) and Specialize (Bluebird), while she is also the grandam of Group 1 winner Bomber Bill (Air De France), Group 3 scorer Camargue (Air De France) as well as Listed winner Special Song (Song Of Tara).
In 2018 Distinctive Lass produced a brother to Kahma Lass, before foaling a filly by Savabeel (Zabeel) last year.
This is the second winner of the Riccarton Classic sired by Darci Brahma, with the stallion being responsible for 2015 winner Risque and he is standing for a fee of NZ$15,000 (plus GST).
