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).
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.
“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.
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).
