Kissinger Captures Pakenham Cup

Mark Smith - Saturday December 3

Despite being on the go since May, the 7yo Tavistock gelding Kissinger is in the form of his life and was rewarded with success in Saturday’s $300,000 Listed Sportsbet Pakenham Cup (2500m).Kissinger gets an Ollie special (image Brett Holburt/Racing Photos)

Ridden by Damien Oliver for Lindsey Smith, the Spicer Thoroughbreds colour-bearer came with a well-timed run from back in the field to overpower the Matt Cuman-trained Nobel Heights (Fiorente) by two lengths with a half-neck back to the Nick Ryan-trained Vegas Knight (Declaration Of War) in third.

Kissinger had defeated Nobel Knight by a length at Cranbourne at his most recent start and increased the margin here despite being 1.5kgs worse off in the weights.  

In winning at his first stakes attempt, Kissinger advances his record to seven wins, five seconds, and two thirds from 25 starts with earnings of $449,123.

“We’ve had a good few weeks for Brad Spicer and his crew but absolutely thrilled to get this win with Kissinger,” stable representative Caitlin McLarn said.

Advertisement

“Ollie and this horse are such a good combination; he just works him out perfectly. I was pretty confident to be honest, he didn’t want to expose him too early and he gave him a perfect ride and he was just super good to the line.

“He had a good preparation early on, he just had a few unlucky runs, maybe not the best rides, but he’s been so consistent, he’s been up for nearly a whole year now, he’s just done a great job, he just keeps bouncing back after each run and he’s thriving off his racing.

“The Bagot (Handicap) has been thrown around. If he pulls up well, then Lindsey might head that way.”

Kissinger was a $52,500 purchase for Nigel Tiley from the Millfield Stud draft at the 2017 NZB Premier Yearling Sale.

After winning two from three in New Zealand for Tiley, Brad Spicer purchased a 50% interest in the son of Tavistock, who was transferred to Smith.

Bred by the late Peter Setchell, Kissinger is the lone winner from two to race out of the winning Black Minnaloushe mare Berlin Belle.

Great thrill for connections (image Brett Holburt/Racing Photos)

The latest edition to the endless stream of stakes-producers from the ‘Belle’ family, Berlin Belle is a half-sister to Group III Gold Trail Stakes winner Zino Belle (Success Express) out of the Group II Dulcie Stakes winner Christiania Belle (Sackford).

Berlin Belle has a yearling filly by Echoes Of Heaven and was covered by him again last season.

Kissinger is the 40th stakes-winner for the late Cambridge Stud stallion Tavistock (Monjeu).

Advertisment

Race Result - Sportsbet Pakenham Cup LR 2500m

Pakenham Track: Good(3) Time: 2:35.29
1
Kissinger
- 7g Tavistock (NZ) x Berlin Belle (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe (USA))
Tnr: L Smith Rdr: D Oliver 54.5
2
2.0
Nobel Heights
- 5h Fiorente (IRE) x Free Friday (AUS) (Helissio (FR))
Tnr: Matthew Cumani Rdr: Declan Bates 54
Fiorente
3
2.2
Vegas Knight
- 6g Declaration Of War (USA) x Lycra Lass (AUS) (Shamardal (USA))
Tnr: Nick Ryan Rdr: B Mc Dougall 54
4
5.2
Sound
- 10h Lando (GER) x Sky Dancing (IRE) (Exit To Nowhere (USA))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: J Mott 59.5
5
5.4
Milford
- 5g Savabeel (AUS) x Etiquette (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: B Shinn 59
6
10.9
Fifth Position
- 7g Dark Angel (IRE) x Ballet Move (GB) (Oasis Dream (GB))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: D Moor 54
7
12.6
Wyclif
- 6g Archipenko (USA) x Altruiste (GB) (Montjeu (IRE))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: Craig Williams 54
8
17.1
The Awesome Son
- 5g Not A Single Doubt (AUS) x Azmiyna (IRE) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: Julius Sandhu Rdr: C Newitt 54
9
29.1
Good Idea
- 8g So You Think (NZ) x Faint Perfume (AUS) (Shamardal (USA))
Tnr: P Stokes Rdr: Zac Spain 54
10
69.1
Swelter Magic
- 5m Ghibellines (AUS) x Swelter (NZ) (Yamanin Vital (NZ))
Tnr: K L Corstens Rdr: Damien Thornton 54
More Reading...
Cup Test for Kiwi Bred Kissinger
New Zealand-bred gelding Kissinger will have the biggest test of his career when he steps out in the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) on Saturday.
Melbourne Cup on Radar for Sons and Lovers
Joseph O’Brien knows what it takes to win a Melbourne Cup and that was mentioned as a possible goal for progressive young stayer Sons and Lovers, who won the Group III Ballyroan Stakes (1m4f) at Leopardstown overnight.
Sires With Winners - Thursday August 7
Here is the full list of 36 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
First Foal for Hilal Delights Grangewilliam Stud
The first foal by Grangewilliam Stud’s Group Two winner and multiple Group One performer Hilal arrived on Thursday morning with a filly born out of the well-related No Nay Never mare La Frox.
Extremely Good Week!
It’s been a memorable week for Star Thoroughbreds having sold their multiple Group winning mare Olentia for $2.6million and then the purple and white stars were back in the winner’s circle at Canterbury on Wednesday carried by 3YO Extreme Choice colt Estremo.
First Godolphin Winner for Maher
Champion trainer Ciaron Maher saddled his first winner for Godolphin at Kembla on Thursday and he did it with a blue-blood colt by Too Darn Hot (GB).
Zoustar Entering the Zenith
The dictionary tells us Zenith is an astronomical term —describing the highest point in an arc travelled by a star, planet or another celestial body- and in the case of this story it’s planet Zoustar!
A Family Affair - Russian Camelot Filly Salutes at Sandown
Danny O’Brien enjoyed Group I success with outstanding colt Russian Camelot (IRE), so was understandably excited to produce his first metropolitan winner as a sire at Sandown on Wednesday and Censori comes from a family that he knows inside and out.
Racing’s Night of Champions August 28
45 of the top horses in Australia will be recognised for outstanding performances during the 2024/2025 racing season at Racing’s Night of Champions.
Wootton Bassett Set to Blast Out of Winter
Many people may have anticipated Wootton Bassett (GB) would have been our Champion Australian First Season Sire last season and while that didn’t quite eventuate, he did finish the season with a wealth of horses holding spring potential and several were in action at the trials this morning.