Kukeracha Strikes in Premier's Cup

Mark Smith - Saturday May 27

Winless in twelve starts and fifty-seven weeks since capturing the Tails Stakes at Doomben, the 2021 Queensland Derby hero  Kukeracha stuck his nose out where it mattered most in Saturday's Group III Living Turf Premier's Cup (2400m) at Sandown.

Kukeracha (blue cap) wins a thriller (image Grant Cortney)

With the 2020 Epsom Derby winner Serpentine (IRE) taking up his favoured front-running role, the race turned into a four-horse war over the final 200m.

Ridden by James McDonald for Chris Waller, Kukeracha bobbed at the right time.

Advertisement

The 5yo son of Night Of Thunder (IRE) edged the rallying Serpentine (Galileo) by a short half-head with Kalapour (IRE) (War Command) the same distance back in third with the 2019 Victorian Derby hero Warning (Declaration of War), a close-up fourth.

Kukeracha advances his record to five wins, five seconds, and four thirds from 33 starts with earnings of $1,030,895.

Chris Waller said Kukeracha reserves his best for Queensland.

"It was all happening, and it was good to see racing like that," Waller said.

"Even last year, he found form up here. He certainly loves it up here and a great ride from James.

"It was just a nice sentimental win."

Carrying the colours of Neville Morgan, Kukeracha was a $130,000 purchase for Mulcaster Bloodstock from the Waikato Stud draft at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale.

A half-brother to the Group III Keith F Nolan Classic and Listed Scone Cup winner Cameo (Shamardal), Kukeracha is the best of five winners from nine to race out of the royally-bred AP Indy mare Portrait Of A Lady (USA).

A half-sister to dual Group III winner Layman, who placed in the Group 1 Prix Morny and Group 1 Grand Criterium, Portrait Of A Lady (USA) is out of the Nureyev mare Laiyl, a three-quarter-sister to Pastorale the dam of Iffraaj.

Kukeracha a $130,000 Karaka yearling

Laiyl is the daughter of the Champion 3YO filly in Ireland in 1989, Alydaress (Alydar), winner of the Oaks at Epsom. She hails from the family of Desirable, Shadayid, Park Appeal and Cape Cross.

Godolphin parted with Portrait of a Lady (USA) at the 2017 Magic Millions  National Broodmare Sale, where she was knocked down to Chris Phillips for $40,000 when carrying Kukeracha.

The 20yo daughter of AP Indy has a weanling colt by Too Darn Hot (GB) and was covered by Pinatubo (IRE) last spring.

Advertisment

Race Result - Living Turf Premier's Cup Gr3 2400m

Eagle Farm Track: Good(4) Time: 2:29.77
1
Kukeracha
- 5g Night Of Thunder (IRE) x Portrait Of A Lady (USA) (Ap Indy (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J B Mc Donald 56.5
2
0.1
Serpentine
- 6g Galileo (IRE) x Remember When (IRE) (Danehill Dancer (IRE))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Tim Clark 58.5
3
0.2
Kalapour
- 6g War Command (USA) x Kaladena (IRE) (Daylami (IRE))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: B Shinn 56.5
4
0.4
Warning
- 6g Declaration Of War (USA) x Livia (AUS) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: J R Collett 54
5
3.6
Yaphet
- 4g Blackfriars (AUS) x Snacking (AUS) (Bletchley Park (IRE))
Tnr: C I Brown Rdr: Tyler Schiller 54
6
3.8
Tappy's Lad
- 5g Proisir (AUS) x Tapinsky (NZ) (Stravinsky (USA))
Tnr: K & I Taplin Rdr: M R Du Plessis 54
7
3.9
Southern Stock
- 4g Tavistock (NZ) x Cape South (NZ) (Cape Cross (IRE))
Tnr: Chris Munce Rdr: Ben Thompson 54
8
4.4
Fancy Man
- 5h Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x Fancy (IRE) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: C Schofield 59
9
6.0
Platinum Invador
- 7g Redwood (GB) x Atomic Dancer (AUS) (Danehill Dancer (IRE))
Tnr: Ms L Latta Rdr: Ryan Maloney 59
10
6.1
London Banker
- 7g Tavistock (NZ) x Palos De Lago (NZ) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: K M Schweida Rdr: James Orman 56
11
6.2
Otyrar
- 5g New Approach (IRE) x Ollie Olga (USA) (Stormy Atlantic (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Damien Thornton 54
12
8.4
Southern France
- 8g Galileo (IRE) x Alta Anna (FR) (Anabaa (USA))
Tnr: Matthew Smith Rdr: L V Cassidy 56.5
13
24.2
Dune Forty Five
- 5g Americain (USA) x Candice (AUS) (Canny Lad (AUS))
Tnr: R L Heathcote Rdr: Craig Williams 54
More Reading...
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.
Breeding To Win – Crystal Ball – New Season 3YOs to Follow
Who are we highlighting this week? - Analysis of the G1 winning 3YO’s for last season has made us realise how many horses on this list took giant strides from two to three, so we are looking into the crystal ball to find some juveniles we believe could end this season as G1 performers if not G1 winners.
Another Promising Son Of Night Of Thunder - Kukeracha Blows Them Away on Debut
Supporters of the heavily-backed Kukeracha would have the heart in the mouth when he stepped away a length behind the field but the son of Night Of Thunder (IRE) powered home in the straight to make a most impressive career debut over 1200 metres at Geelong on Wednesday.
Above the Clouds Wins $100,000 Polytrack Championship
It proved to be a long but fruitful day for Kelly Myers on Friday, with the now Central Districts-based hoop riding home Above The Clouds to win the $100,000 TAB Polytrack Championship (2000m) at Cambridge for local trainer Ralph Manning.
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!
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.
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.
Kukeracha Loves Queensland
The Chris Waller-trained Night Of Thunder (IRE) gelding Kukeracha returned to the winner’s stall for the first time since the Group 1 Queensland Derby last May in Saturday’s Listed Tails Stakes (1640m) at Doomben.
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.
One to Watch – Geelong
Team Hawkes were the guiding force behind the racing career of Group I ATC Doncaster Mile winner Brutal and have also prepared his first Group I winner as a sire in Nepotism and they unleashed a debut winner by him at Geelong on Friday.