Melbourne, October 20 – The Darley colours were carried to victory in the first race at Geelong on Wednesday by blue-blooded Redoute’s Choice colt Kookaburras, a half-brother to champion filly Alinghi from star producer Oceanfast.
The Lee Freedman trained colt was a well backed favourite on the strength of a handy first up second at Bendigo on October 8 and gave punters no cause for concern as he swept to the lead in the straight before powering clear to win the 1403 metre maiden by three and a half lengths.
It was the first win in four starts for Kookaburras, who looks a progressive colt destined for better company.
“He’s a big and burley sort of horse that has need to time to furnish and come into himself,” said Freedman Racing Manager Sam Pritchard-Gordon.
“If he does step up to stakes company this preparation then maybe the Sandown Guineas might be a suitable race.”
The colt was partnered by Damien Oliver, who was the regular rider for his four time Group One winning half-sister to Alinghi.
“He’s a good sized lump of a horse like she was, but he doesn’t have her turn of foot,” said Oliver.
“He was a bit slow out, but then got cover and travelled nicely. He gives you the feeling that he will be better suited over further.”
Kookaburras was a $750,000 purchase for Darley from the Yarraman Park draft at the 2009 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale and is the sixth winner for outstanding producer Oceanfast, who is also the grand-dam of last season’s top class juvenile colt Beneteau.
Oceanfast has no yearling for the sales in 2011, but has already foaled this spring producing a colt by More Than Ready (USA) on August 28.
