The Gary Portelli trained filly Kimochi was a model of consistency last spring starting in six stakes races to place in all of them without winning, so when she poked her nose in front to take out the $300,000 Group II ATC Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday few could begrudge her the sweet taste of success.
Kimochi raced deep into the spring finishing second to Joliestar in the Group I MRC Thousand Guineas on November 18, so had a fitness edge over her rivals and in the final strides it proved an advantage. She let down with a savage turn of foot to charge home and win by a long head over brilliant Justify (USA) filly Learning to Fly, who was having her first run since being injured in last year’s Golden Slipper.
Holding down third place was Hellbent filly Kristilli, who won the Group II ATC Percy Sykes Stakes at two before losing her form last spring, but she’s obviously back in a big way.
"When the second horse moved up I thought, 'here we go again', we're going to get beat(en) again'," Portelli said.
"I was ready for the sad story, but she fought strongly and we're in for a big prep.
"She's got that tenacity hasn't she. She came off the carpet there, I thought she was gone for sure.
"She wanted to win today and she deserved it."
The place-getters will all do battle again in two weeks time when they contest the Group I ATC Surround Stakes (1400m) at Randwick.
A $21,000 Inglis Weanling Sale purchase from Valiant Stud for Hall of Fame Bloodstock Pty Ltd, Kimochi has the overall record of two wins and eight placings from 10 starts and has earned just shy of $900,000 in prizemoney.
Bred by Aquis, Kimochi is the best of two winners from unraced I Am Invincible mare Summer Fun, a half-sister to Group III placed Real Charisma from Group I placed Summerbliss tracing back to international Group I winning mare Infamy.
Summer Fun was bought by Kia Ora Stud at the 2022 Inglis Broodmare Sale for $80,000 and her yearling colt by Russian Revolution is in their draft for Inglis Easter as Lot 327.
Summer Fun produced a filly by Captivant last spring and is now in foal to Farnan.
Kimochi is the second stakes-winner for Brave Smash (Jpn), who now stands at Yarraman Park after starting his career with Aquis. He covered 112 mares last spring at a fee of $33,000 at his new home.
