3 minute read

When Angela Brakey first caught sight of well-bred gelding King Island his outward appearance suggested owner Craig Kettle was living up to his reputation of having a keen eye for a horse.

Craig Kettle purchased the gelded son of Toronado from his former trainer Dean Binaisse in August, but once the gelding was asked to be put through his paces at Longford it revealed a different story.

"When we first got the horse, he had a few problems we had to sort out and they were mainly little niggling muscle issues but once he was pain-free he was a different horse," Angela Brakey said.

At his first start for Brakey on the Devonport synthetic late last month he ran well, given he was never better than three-wide the trip, finishing fourth and less than a length from then winner Cyclone Louie.

"He raced so greenly at Devonport that we weren't all that confident of him winning on Wednesday night, but we know now that he was ready."

Victorian-based apprentice Kiran Quilty had King Island settled behind the leader, Duncannon, in the Steve's Liquor Maiden (1400m), and she persisted with the rail waiting for a gap to appear in the straight.

When the gap came,King Island ($20) barged his way through and outgunned the heavily backed favourite Eagle Street ($4.60 into $2.80) to win by a long neck with Ahzeezah ($9) a fast-finishing third almost a length away.

"I have a particularly good feeling about this horse, and should he develop as I think he will, then Craig (Kettle) is going to have a lot of fun.

"He has won this over 1400m but after speaking to the rider (Quilty) he should get a longer trip."

Quilty, who was dumped soon after the start in the previous race (from Rose De Lune), bounced back the best way possible and she was impressed with King Island's effort.

"We were travelling great throughout the race, and I felt all we needed was a split and he would win and when it came, he just took the gap and burst clear. It was impressive," Quilty said.