The 7-year-old War Command gelding Kalapour (Ire) ascended to new heights with a hard-fought win in Saturday’s $1,500,000 Group 1 Kia Tancred Stakes (2400m) at Rosehill.
A sigh of relief from Dylan Gibbons (image Steve Hart)
A second Group 1 winner for Dylan Gibbons, the Kris Lees-trained import was strong to the line in defeating More Felons (IRE) (Churchill) by a long head with Ashrun (FR) (Authorized) one and a half lengths back in third.
The second longest-priced runner in the field, Kalapour (Ire), advances his record to six wins, four seconds, and four thirds from 23 starts with earnings of $1,554,774.
“At 8.30am on Wednesday, I nearly was going to run him in the Neville Sellwood Stakes,” Lees revealed.
“I ummed and ahhed which way to go, and it looked like it was falling away a little bit, this race, so we thought we’d give him his chance.
“I came here hoping he’d earn a nice cheque for connections, probably not that confident. But I’m really happy. ”
He (Dyan Gibbons) is a super kid. What you see is what you get. That’s him, all the time. He’s just a pleasure to have around. I know he’s already won a Group 1, but he’s got many more (to come). Finally we got one together, that’s great.”
“He’s in the Sydney Cup and obviously he won’t get a penalty out of today so it’s something to consider. But either way, it’s a big thrill today.”
The winner of one of four starts in Ireland, Kalapour (Ire) wasbred by Aga Khan Studs and is a half-brother to stakes-winner Kalaxana (Rock Of Gibraltar), out of the Dalylami mare Kaladena a three-quarter sister to the Group 1 Breeders' Cup Turf and Group 1 Newmarket Champion Stakes winner Kalanisi and a half to Group II winner Kalaman and Listed-winner Kaloura.
The Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes winner War Command began his stud career at Coolmore, Ireland, before transferring to Haras de Gelos in France.
The son of War Front USA) shuttled to Chile where he sired three Group 1 winners.
