One of two stakes winners on the day for Darley’s Too Darn Hot at Caulfield, the impressive Group 3 MRC Heath 1100 (1100m) victory of Kia Ora’s Tropicus has connections set to target the stallion prospect at Group 1 races.
Third on this day in the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes behind Storm Boy (Justify) off the back of a winning debut, the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Tropicus took another five starts to record victory, taking out the Group 3 Zeditave Stakes at Caulfield and a return to the same track on Saturday saw a stunning victory to the 4yo stallion prospect.
With Mark Zahra taking Tropicus forward after jumping from barrier three, Tony Gollan’s noted leader, and race favourite Zarastro (I Am Invincible) went around Tropicus to take up the running, albeit momentarily.
As the turn was reached and Zarastro started to wobble, Tropicus maintained his rail hugging position, as the multiple stakes winner Arkansaw Kid (Harry Angel) came around the tiring Zarastro to put himself into a challenge position.
With Tropicus and Arkansaw Kid going head-to-head, the Kia Ora raced 4yo asserted his authority at the 200m mark, pulling clear and going further ahead, taking the race by two and a quarter lengths.
Coming from the tail of the field in what was an outstanding effort first up effort for new owners Yulong, the now Matt Laurie trained 6yo mare See You In Heaven (Divine Prophet) nabbed third with Zarastro weakening for fourth.
Co-trainer Sam Freedman was impressed with the victory of the 4yo.
“That was super. He’s been trialling really well, the horse. His last jumpout was with Treasurethe Moment and he was cruising along next to her,” said Freedman.
“So he's come back in great form. Credit to Kia Ora, they’ve been great to train for, they really allow you to plot a path and Luke (Wilkinson) and I had a chat about this race going back four or five weeks and it's been a real team effort for all the crew at all the staff.
“He’s come back much better, he’s still an entire, so we’ll have to try and win it the highest level”
When asked where Tropics might head next, Freedman felt a step up to the elite level could be on the radar.
“Maybe the Manikato might be the right target for him,” said Freedman.
“He's got very good gate speed, he wasn't stopping there, so he would keep running at 1200 and I think what's been the key is tactical speed now the blinkers have gone on.
“We’ve been able to put him up on the pace. In Sydney in his three-year old season, behind Broadsiding and all that he was working home, and he was a bit unlucky and tactical speed in Australia is so important, so that’s been very key for him.”
Zahra was complimentary on the way Tropicus was able to absorb the pressure placed on him during the run.
“It's quite a strong tail wind down the side there, so you're not really exerting a lot of energy into that down the side, so I was able to hold Zarastro out, which I wanted to do because he rails very well, this horse,” said Zahra.
“He did well. He did a good job to absorb the pressure and then still give a good kick in the straight.
“He’s taken me, to be honest, by surprise because I thought it was the leader’s track the day he won the Zeditave, things went his way, but that’s a good job today.
“He’s now a four-year-old against the older horses and he had to do it tough at both ends, so he’s definitely improved, I think.”
The win of Tropicus takes his record to three wins and two placed efforts from just nine starts with earnings of $462,800.
Bred by Kia Ora Stud Pty Ltd, Mr D Kelly, Mrs J Kelly, NSW, Tropicus is the second winner from as many to race out of the Exceed And Excel mare Extensible, a full sister to stakes-winner Cathay Lady.
Extensible has an unraced 3yo filly by Wootton Basett as part of the Bjorn Baker stable named Fashion Diva, followed by an unnamed 2yo colt by the very same sire before foaling a filly by Justify the following season.
The mare is due to foal this season to Coolmore's exciting young stallion Home Affairs.
Tropicus is one of 27 stakes winners, and the second for the day by Darley’s Too Darn Hot after the earlier Listed win of Too Darn Discreet.
Too Darn Hot will stand the upcoming breeding season at Darley’s Kelvinside property for a fee of $275,000 (inc. GST).
