Filly primed for return
RACING: She is the only horse to lower the colours of Queensland’s best two-yearold, and now Toowoomba’s premier juvenile is ready to race again.
Kisukano makes her much anticipated return to the track tomorrow in the Bruce McLachlan Classic (1000m) at the Sunshine Coast.
The Michael Nolantrained filly was last seen on the Gold Coast in March as a dominant winner of the $500k QTIS 2YO Jewel, downing Rothfire by two lengths.
It squared the ledger after Robert Heatchote’s Group 1 winning filly got the better of Kisukano two starts prior, and Nolan said that form line bodes well for his rising talent.
“She beat us at our first attempt at a Saturday event in Brisbane,” Nolan said.
“It was off the back of a win up here (Clifford Park), and it’s always hard to line up from Toowoomba to a metro race.
“Obviously we didn’t know how good Rothfire was at that stage. She was just too quick that day, and at the moment that’s the best twoyear-old form line in Queensland.”
Nolan said Kisukano has been working well in the lead up for tomorrow’s event, however acknowledged the task would be tough with 60.5kg.
“It’s good to have her back at the track. She’s had a nice eight-week spell which she needed,” he said.
“She had to do it all at her first prep, and sometimes that’s pretty hard to do for a two-year-old filly. She’s had a good break with coming back on Saturday in mind. We’ve been happy with the jumpouts she’s had.
“We never expected her to get 60.5kg, we thought 59 would be fair. There are a few horses in the race that can gallop and go all right.
“I think it (the weight) makes any good horse feel it. For her to carry that and beat these sorts of horses from an outside gate (barrier nine), you’d want to be going pretty well.
“I suppose it will give us an idea of which way we’re heading.”
Should she get the cash on Saturday, Nolan said a trip to Sydney could be on the cards.
“We were always going to run in this race and then a filly’s race at Doomben two weeks later,” he said.
“However, if she wins this race, we might have to look at something in Sydney, because she will probably be weighted out of her next option.
“We’ll have a look at some of those early season threeyear-old fillies’ races in Sydney and could give her a go to test the waters.
“We have to get over Saturday first. We have to go up there with a few things against us.”
One of the feature races of the day at Corbolud Park is the $85k Glasshouse Handicap (1200m), with Mark Currie saddling up Soxagaon.
It marks the four-yearold’s first attempt at black type after winning four of his five starts this preparation.
Matt Boland (Miss Margs and Buzzer Beater) and Kevin Kemp (Naval Strike) have chances in the $125k Group 3 Winx Guineas (1600m).