Cover image courtesy of Michael McInally
Throughout the three weeks since Explosive Jack added the G1 South Australian Derby at Morphettville to his previous victories in the G1 Australian Derby at Randwick and the Listed Tasmanian Derby at Hobart, the remarkable 3-year-old dominated the countdown to the Brisbane Classic, where he would attempt to become the first horse in more than four decades to win a Derby in four different states.
But it proved to be a bridge too far and he had to settle for a gallant third, beaten just over 1l by the fresher legs of Kukeracha and Senor Toba.
Kukeracha went into the Derby slightly under the radar at $11, despite being a two-race winner who had picked up placings in the G2 Queensland Guineas and G3 Rough Habit Plate in his last two lead-up runs.
But he capitalised on a dream run on Saturday from jockey James McDonald, settling into a beautiful rhythm in midfield behind a strong early pace.
McDonald pushed the button in the straight and drove Kukeracha through an opening four off the rail, charging into contention alongside the strong-finishing Explosive Jack.
Stablemate Senor Toba loomed out wide with a menacing late run, but Kukeracha and McDonald saw him coming. Kukeracha rose to the challenge and never let Senor Toba get past him, maintaining a narrow advantage all the way to the line in a nail-biting finish.
It was Waller’s second Queensland Derby win, following on from Hawkspur (Purrealist) in 2013.
Saturday’s triumph brought a long-range plan to fruition for Waller, whose high regard for Kukeracha dates all the way back to a debut victory at Geelong as an autumn 2-year-old in April of last year.
“We had a great opinion of him as a 2-year-old, but he just lost his way a little bit,” the Champion trainer said. “It’s the typical story – he was gelded and just taken through the system.
“We brought him up here to run at Eagle Farm in the summer (a win over 1600 metres on Boxing Day), and he ran very well. I just wanted to give him some experience on this track, and maybe that’s been a good move. His run in the Queensland Guineas was good, his last start in the Rough Habit was good, and today was brilliant.
“Our horses had two great rides. James had the best draw (gate two on Kukeracha, compared to 18 for Senor Toba), so we won’t give him as much credit!
"Our horses had two great rides. James (McDonald) had the best draw (gate two on Kukeracha, compared to 18 for Senor Toba), so we won’t give him as much credit!" - Chris Waller
“For Hugh (Bowman) to be able to slot Senor Toba in and get him in the position he did was a special ride.
“I saw Explosive Jack, with all his form, kicking through on the inside, and I thought our horses would probably just run a nice second or third.
“To get this result is a real credit to both horses, and to Lofty (stable foreman Brett Killion) and the team up here in Queensland. They’ve done a fantastic job with this horse.”
Bought by Mulcaster Bloodstock for NZ$130,000 at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale, Kukeracha has now had 13 starts for three wins, five placings and $583,245 in stakes.
He races in the colours of prominent Waller client Neville Morgan, who has previously enjoyed Group 1 success with Waller trainees such as Rangirangdoo (NZ) (Pentire {GB}), Kermadec (NZ) and Kolding (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}). He also won the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic earlier this year with Shaquero (Shalaa {Ire}).
“He’s a proud Queenslander, which makes this win – and the Magic Millions win earlier in the year with his good mate David Devine – very special,” Waller said.
Another Waikato success
Kukeracha was bred by Waikato Stud’s resident vet Dr Chris Phillips, who purchased his dam Portrait Of A Lady (USA) (A.P. Indy {USA}) – with the Derby winner in utero – for $40,000 at the 2017 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale on the Gold Coast.
The resulting foal was offered by Waikato Stud at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale at Karaka, where he was picked out by Mulcaster Bloodstock.
Portrait Of A Lady is a half-sister to Layman (USA) (Sunday Silence {USA}), who won the G3 Prix de Cabourg and placed in the G1 Prix Morny and Grand Criterium. Her dam is a three-quarter sister to the dam of highly successful sire Iffraaj (GB), while influential sire Cape Cross (Ire) and Group 1 winners such as Alydaress (USA) (Alydar {USA}), Park Appeal (Ire) (Ahonoora {GB}), Diktat (GB) (Warning {GB}) and Hot Snitzel (Snitzel) also feature on the pedigree page.
Herself a winner over a mile in the United States, Portrait Of A Lady is the dam of five winners from seven foals to race. Kukeracha became the second stakes winner, joining the G3 Keith Nolan Classic and Listed Scone Cup winner Cameo (Shamardal {USA}). The latter was purchased by Rosemont Stud at the Magic Millions National Sale last week for $210,000.
Since producing Kukeracha in 2017, Portrait Of A Lady has had a filly by Sacred Falls (NZ), a colt by Sacred Falls and a filly by Ocean Park (NZ).
Night Of Thunder (Ire) | Standing at Darley Europe
Kukeracha is by the English 2000 Guineas winner Night Of Thunder (Ire), who shuttled to Darley Australia in 2016.
Night Of Thunder has sired 115 winners from 179 runners worldwide, with 20 at stakes level. Kukeracha became the first at Group 1 level, and he is his fifth stakes winner in Australia overall – joining Cherry Tortoni, A Beautiful Night, River Night and Hela.
