Trainer Gary Portelli is pushing for a slot in The Everest for four-year-old mare Kimochi who rewarded her new owners Yulong with a strong win in the Gr.3 Toy Show Quality on Saturday at Randwick.
Ridden by Jason Collett, Kimochi fought hard to put her head in front of a wall of horses to win the Gr.3 Toy Show by 0.36l from Godolphin’s Commemorative (I Am Invincible) with the Michael Freedman-trained Mumbai Muse (Zoustar) only an inch behind in third.
“Fantastic start to her preparation, a great win today for Yulong. Commiserations to her previous owner, Leo To, who bought her in the first place, but she did a great job for him and I’m sure he’s got mixed emotions at home watching the race, but he’s got some nice horses coming through himself,” Portelli said.
“She’s been racing nearly forever, and this is the first time she’s come in (after) a good two or three months (spell) under her belt. And I was pretty confident that she was after these horses when you saw the opposition that had been winning today. She’s been amongst these horses every time she’s raced. So today was her day, and she did a great job. No luck at all, three deep, no cover the trip and still did the job, so she’s a pretty good mare.”
Purchased by Ilsay Vale for $2.2 million at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale when consigned by Twin Hills Stud on behalf of her owners, Kimochi races in the Yulong Stud colours. Previously, she had been a $21,000 weanling purchase by Hall Of Fame Bloodstock at the Inglis Australian Weanling Sale from Valiant Stud.
Kimochi now has three wins to go with her nine placings from 14 starts with earnings over $1.1 million. By Yarraman Park Stud’s Brave Smash (Jpn) who has three Stakes winners from only 100 named foals, she is the second foal of unraced mare Summer Fun (I Am Invincible) whose first foal is Listed Singapore Derby-placed, winner of three races, Hole In One (Spieth {NZ}). Summer Fun also has an unraced 3-year-old filly, Distinctly Summer (Invader) and an unnamed 2-year-old colt by Russian Revolution.
Summer Fun is a full sister to the Stakes-placed winner Real Charisma, and their dam is G1 Victoria Oaks-placed winner Summerbliss (Danehill Dancer {Ire}).
This article was written by Renee Geelen for TTR AusNZ.
