Plan comes off for Kiwia in VOBIS Gold Stayers at Caulfield

Darryl Sherer - Saturday July 29

A long range plan came to fruition when Kiwia landed Saturday's VOBIS Gold Stayers (2400m) at Caulfield.

Advertisement
Kiwia winning the VOBIS Gold Stayers. Photo: Darryl Sherer

Trainer Darren Weir explained his racing manager Jeremy Rogers identified the $150,000 contest as the ideal race for Kiwia several weeks ago and the three-year-old justified the confidence with a comfortable win.

Allowed to settle worse than midfield by Damian Lane, Kiwia ($1.90 fav) did it the hard way, moving around the field into the face of the strong wind to accelerate clear 200m out and defeat Benall ($31) by one length with Dandre ($14) staying on for third, a half head away.

Charlevoix started the well-backed $3.60 second favourite but went to the line untested under Craig Williams behind a wall of horses towards the inside.

Trainer Darren Weir said the valuable win was compensation for Kiwia following an unlucky defeat at Caulfield over 2000m last time out.

"He was unlucky last start but credit to Jeremy (Rogers) - he picked this race out ages ago and said it was the race we should be having a go at," Weir said

"It's a terrific race to win with the prizemoney and the bonuses."

A three-year-old son of Reset, Kiwia was racing beyond 2000m for the first time.

"He just keeps improving and handled the step up in distance today. His pedigree suggested he'd run it and he relaxed well and was strong through the line," Weir said.

"It probably wouldn't have wanted to be much further as they looked like they were getting him late but he's done a good job the horse.

"I think horses can sometimes take a run at a distance to be able to run it properly."

Weir said the Gerry Ryan-owned Kiwia will be aimed at the Bendigo Cup in the spring.

"Gerry's a local boy and he sponsors the race and he'd love to win it," Weir said. "We'll send the horse to the farm now and give him a little break, the Bendigo Cup will come around pretty quick.

"He's quite a gross doing horse so he needs to be constantly ticking over - when he isn't working he can be a ratbag."

Advertisment
More Reading...
Tara Talks Racing Podcast Online
We’re talking Cox Plate and whether Bucky can win the Cup, plus Godolphin colts, how can you not, they have had a fabulous spring and it’s not over yet!
First Winner for King of Comedy
Novara Park Stud stallion King Of Comedy (IRE) is on the board as a sire, with his son Sir Ruby becoming his first winner when victorious over 1300m at Selangor Turf Club in Malaysia on Sunday.
Famous Foal with Coolmore Stud Stakes Connections
The Group I VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes this weekend is a race that has developed a deserved reputation as a sire making race and a foal image that arrived to the Breednet Foal Gallery on Monday is a colt with an undeniable connection to this pivotal race for the breeding industry.
Pedigree Potential –NZB Ready to Run – Nicks that Click
A quality packed catalogue for the 2025 NZB Ready to Run Sale (November 12 and 13) is online with breeze up video now in place and in the lead up to the sale we’ll go looking each week for some horses of interest that jump out on pedigree for various reasons.
Day 1 Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale 375,000 Guineas for August George
Smart two-year-old AUGUST GEORGE topped the opening day of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale at Park Paddocks when selling for 375,000 guineas to Qatari trainer Gassim Ghazali, one of five lots to realise 200,000 guineas or more.
Sires With Winners - Monday October 27
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
$10 million Golden Eagle Field and Barrier Draw
The favourites have all fared well after the field and barrier draw was declared for the $10million Golden Eagle at Randwick this Saturday.
First Stakes Win for The Autumn Sun Half-Brother
The Listed Chantilly Grand Prix du Nord (2000m) in France overnight provided a first stakes win for blueblood Dubawi colt Azimpour, the half-brother to Champion Australian 3YO Colt and now G1 sire The Autumn Sun.
Same Race - New Name- $1 million THE MOVE TO STRIKE THOROUGHBRED CLUB STAKES
First run in 1968 and previously featured on Caulfield Cup Day, the Group 3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes enters an exciting new era in 2025.
Maher and Waller Strike at Tattersalls Horses in Training Sale
Champion Australian trainers Chris Waller and Ciaron Maher have been active during the first session of the Tattersalls Horses in Training Sale, which was topped last year by Sir Delius (GB) at 1.3million guineas.