Purchased at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale, four-year-old mare Kimochi (Brave Smash {JPN}) returned to Gary Portelli’s stables in the Yulong colours of green and white. Winner of the Gr.3 Toy Show H. when resuming this spring, she ran fourth in the Gr.1 Manikato S., before a fourth in the Silver Eagle, then a disappointing seventh in the Gr.1 Empire Rose.
She more than made up for it on Saturday with a tough 0.46l win over Ciaron Maher trained favourite Another Wil (Street Boss {USA}). In third was Paul Preusker trained Steparty (Artie Schiller {USA}).
“There was a bit of pressure on us, Yulong have been on fire with their famous colours in the last few weeks,” Portelli said.
“He was a long way back at one stage but it is a dream come true for us. We need the bigger stables behind us, that helps, and we’ve repaid their faith.
“They paid $2.2 million for her at the Inglis sales and we’ve been able to win a Group 1 now and she’s worth probably three times that now.”
Kimochi’s form hadn’t excited punters who let her go around at $26, but a clever ride from Craig Williams had her back to her best form.
“It was always in the back of my mind. When she raced so keenly over the mile last start, we just had no choice, we’re going back to 1400 metres. With a light weight on her back, we didn’t draw where we wanted to draw but what a great ride, it made up the difference.”
She will be sent for a short spell, and a future plan will be announced in time. “We’ll just put her away now and regroup. I think 1400 metres is obviously the distance we have to stick to now. She’s a good horse fresh, she’s unbeaten first-up so we’ll find something and have a good crack at her first-up.”
Connections of Kimochi after winning the Gr.1 Sir Rupert Clarke S. at Caulfield
Gallery: Images courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Kimochi becomes the first Group 1 winner for Brave Smash (JPN), who has only 69 runners to date for three Stakes winners.
Kimochi was originally sold as a weanling by Valiant Stud at the Inglis Australian Weanling Sale for $21,000 to Hall Of Fame Bloodstock and won the Gr.2 Light Fingers S. at three before her sale to Yulong. Winning the Gr.1 Sir Rupert Clarke S. took her record to four wins from 18 starts with earnings over $1.9 million.
She is the second foal for unraced mare Summer Fun (I Am Invincible) whose first foal is Listed Singapore Derby-placed Hole in One (Spieth {NZ}).
Written by Renee Geelen for TTRAusNZ
