Punters were faced with a dilemma in Saturday’s Group 1 Fujitsu George Main Stakes at Randwick in trying to place Chris Waller’s four runners in the right order - most failed.
The champion trainer went 1-2-3-4 in the seven-horse field, but it was Kolding who had placed just once in his previous seven starts, emerging victorious for the first time since his triumph in the $7.5 million Golden Eagle over 1500m at Rosehill last November.
That was the culmination of three consecutive wins which began with the Bill Ritchie Stakes on this programme 12 months ago before capturing the Group Epsom Handicap ar Randwick.
Given a positive ride by Tommy Berry, Kolding sat outside the frontrunning Dreamforce before taking control at the 300m then holding off Star Of The Seas by a long-neck, to give Waikato Stud’s rising star Ocean Park the quinella.
Imaging (Oasis Dream) was a long-head back in third ahead of the luckless favourite Verry Elleegant.
It was the seventh win in the race for Chris Waller who said Kolding is unlikely to defend his Epsom Handicap crown.
“He will get too much weight although I think one of his stalemates might do,” Waller said.
“But we’ll find a nice race for Kolding.
“We went to Melbourne and he doesn’t like the left haded way off going, that was a disaster but he came back and ran very well in the Doncaster.
We’ve just got to find his right distance. He will be following the weight-for-age path.
“While I might query Melbourne for him I wouldn’t rule out Moonee Valley or Flemington, but he certainly doesn’t like Caulfield.”
Purchased by Mulcaster Bloodstock for $170,000 out of the Wentwood Grange draft at the 2017 NZB Premier Yearling Sale, Kolding advances his record 9 wins, 2 second and 3 thirds from 23 starts with earnings of $5,608,650.
He is the third stakes-winner out of the Danzero mare Magic Star who was purchased by Kolding's breeder Warren Pegg for $34,000 at the 2008 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
Seven out of Magic Star's eight foals to reach the track are winners with Kolding joining the prolific Group II winner Sampson (Dubai Destination) and the Listed winner Miss Upstart (Snippetson).
Magic has a 3yo Iffraaj filly named Faye Presto who was purchased for $150,000 by Grahame Begg Racing / Rohan J Hughes Thoroughbred Services at Karaka. She has finished out of a place in her two starts to date.
Sadly, Magic Star and her Astern colt foal died last spring.
