Ocean Park 3YO Kovalica wins G2 Queensland Guineas

Media Release - Saturday April 29

The Chris Waller-trained Kovalica further enhanced his Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) claims with the son of Ocean Park an arrogant winner of the Gr.2 Queensland Guineas (1600m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Kovalica and Nash Rawiller close out a victory in the Gr.2 Queensland Guineas (1600m) at Eagle Farm Photo: Grant Peters Photography

He was posted three-deep throughout but clicked into gear late under Nash Rawiller to get the better of Perfect Thought and The Vowels.

Raced by proud Queenslander Neville Morgan and David Devine, the Derby in the Sunshine State has long been on the cards for the high-class three-year-old.

The gelding put the writing on the wall late last year when breaking the 2100m Eagle Farm track record previously held by Gypsy Goddess when winning the Gr.3 Grand Prix Stakes back in December.

A winner of five of his seven starts, Kovalica had caught the eye when rattling into third when resuming in the Listed South Pacific Classic (1400m) at Randwick on April 8 and took another step forward on Saturday.

Kovalica was confidently ridden by Nash Rawiller, with Chris Waller’s Queensland stable foreman Brett Killion impressed by the pair’s ability to get the job done.

&ldq

uo;Good horses seem to overcome difficulties. He is a horse on the way up and the grand final is in four weeks,” Killion said.

“We were aware of that and at the mile today he might not have had quite the dash that he did first up.

“Before the race, I don’t know who was more laid back, Nash or the horse. They both get out there and it is game on. He was too good.”

The Gr.3 Rough Habit Plate (2000m) at Doomben on May 13 is the next assignment before the Derby at Eagle Farm on May 27 and Killion wasn’t concerned by Saturday’s tough run.

Advertisement

“Nothing really fazes him. He is likely to go home and lick the bin. He just slops around the track and nothing fazes him,” he said.

Rawiller was also complimentary of the horse who will be suited over further ground. 

“To be fair, I almost got into one off the fence, but once I realised I couldn’t get in, I looked up and had a look around and thought ‘I’m in the perfect spot here’,” Rawiller said.

“He just got into a beautiful rhythm and travelled really well and the way the track has been racing, it was going to help him home.

“To be fair when I went for him with 100m to go, he sort of thought there is still another lap in there. He is a very nice horse.

“I was confident that my bloke had Perfect Thought’s measure and he is going to get better over further.”

Kovalica was a $100,000 Karaka Book 1 purchase.

Bred by Nearco Stud, Kovalica was purchased out of Curraghmore’s 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale draft for $110,000 by Guy Mulcaster.

By Waikato Stud stallion Ocean Park, Kovalica is out of the winning Makfi mare Vitesse, a half-sister to triple Group One winning sprinter The Bostonian.

Vitesse is back in foal to Ocean Park. – NZ Racing Desk

Visit the profile page for Ocean Park

Ocean Park in upcoming sales:
Advertisment

Race Result - Sky Racing Queensland Guineas Gr2 1600m

Eagle Farm Track: Good(4) Time: 1:36.45
1
Kovalica
- 3g Ocean Park (NZ) x Vitesse (NZ) (Makfi (GB))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: N Rawiller 57
2
0.3
Perfect Thought
- 3c So You Think (NZ) x Perfectly Safe (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: J G Sargent Rdr: Tim Clark 57
So You Think
3
1.1
The Vowels
- 3g Better Than Ready (AUS) x Mareeza (AUS) (Freeze (AUS))
Tnr: A J & T Edmonds Rdr: James Orman 57
4
1.2
Bulikov
- 3g Deep Field (AUS) x Divine City (AUS) (Ferocity (AUS))
Tnr: R L Heathcote Rdr: Ashley Morgan 57
5
1.3
Brookhaven
- 3g Spieth (NZ) x Lightens (AUS) (Viscount (AUS))
Tnr: Chris Munce Rdr: Justin Huxtable 57
6
1.8
Brosnan
- 3c Snitzel (AUS) x Supara (AUS) (Domesday (AUS))
Tnr: G Ryan & S Alexiou Rdr: B Avdulla 57
7
3.6
Waitak
- 3g Proisir (AUS) x Repo Bay (NZ) (Shocking (AUS))
Tnr: L O'Sullivan & A Scott Rdr: Ben Thompson 57
8
4.0
Noah 'N' A Deel
- 3f Maurice (JPN) x Double Deel (AUS) (Dundeel (NZ))
Tnr: L D Kelly Rdr: S Cormack 55
9
4.2
Tapildoodledo
- 3g Proisir (AUS) x Mrs Tappy (NZ) (One Cool Cat (USA))
Tnr: K & I Taplin Rdr: M R Du Plessis 57
10
5.3
The Fortune Teller
- 3c Caravaggio (USA) x National Velvet (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: B Melham 57
11
5.9
Nippa's Nightcap
- 3g Sebring (AUS) x Lady Antebellum (AUS) (Hussonet (USA))
Tnr: K M Schweida Rdr: Taylor Marshall 57
12
6.3
Magadan
- 3g Russian Revolution (AUS) x Tempting Delight (AUS) (Northern Meteor (AUS))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: C Schofield 57
13
6.4
Lady Le Da
- 3f Domesday (AUS) x Marlene Adele (AUS) (Holy Roman Emperor (IRE))
Tnr: P P Jenkins Rdr: J Byrne 55
14
6.6
Cocobrew Express
- 3g Spill The Beans (AUS) x Hello I Love You (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: R Tyrell & T Button Rdr: Angela Jones 57
15
13.1
Rising Pacific
- 3g Preferment (NZ) x Pacific Choice (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: T J Gollan Rdr: Ryan Maloney 57
More Reading...
Ocean Park 3YO Kovalica Romps in Queensland Derby
Odd-on favourite Kovalica completed a fantastic day for owner Neville Morgan, trainer Chris Waller, and jockey James McDonald when he put the field to the sword in the  $1,000,000 Group 1 Ladbrokes Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Godolphin’s Lonhro Filly Proficient On Debut
From the penultimate crop of Darley’s Champion Sire Lonhro, the Ben, Will and JD Hayes trained 3yo filly Proficient started the race favourite, winning the Sportsbet Race Previews Plate (1000m) at Sandown Hillside in a fighting finish. 
Hellbent Winner Impresses at Sha Tin
Astute trainer Mark Newnham paid $425,000 at the 2023 NZB Ready to Run Sale to secure a promising two year-old by Hellbent and Invincible Ibis delivered on that promise when scoring a last to first win at Sha Tin on Wednesday.
King’s Legacy Filly Salutes for Yulong
The first stakes-winner for her sire King’s Legacy when winning the Group III SAJC David Coles AM Stakes (1200m) last season, Steel Trap was subsequently purchased by Yulong privately and she posted her first win in their colours at Sandown on Wednesday.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday October 1
Here is the full list of 49 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
One to Watch – Doomben
The $250,000 Group III BRC Grand Prix (2100m) will be run at Eagle Farm on December 17 and a three year-old that won impressively at Doomben on Saturday will be one of the top contenders.
Magic Trials at Caulfield Heath
Early season two-year-olds will step out this Thursday, 2 October, at the Caulfield Spring Trials presented by Magic Millions, with 800m 2YO heats following the opening trial for Group performers at 7:30am on the Caulfield Heath.
Derby Dream for Exciting Kiwi Bred 3YO Kovalica
Smart staying three-year-old Kovalica gave favourite punters few concerns when he cruised to victory in Saturday’s Gr.3 Grand Prix Stakes (2100m) at Eagle Farm.
Talented So You Think Mare Goes Two for Two
So You Think is setting the pace for winners this season as we head into October and one of those promising winners is talented four year-old mare Enamorada, who made it two wins in as many starts when saluting at Sandown on Wednesday as favourite.
First Win for Storm Boy Half-Brother by Pierro
Progressive Pierro colt Shangri La Boy is a very different horse to his older half-brother Storm Boy and while that Group winning colt is covering his first book of mares at Coolmore this spring, this fellow is on his way with an impressive maiden win at Rosehill on Wednesday.