The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young stable are no strangers to Japanese bloodlines, having trained Tagaloa (Lord Kanaloa) and Glint Of Hope (Jpn) (Deep Impact) to Group 1 success in Australia, and they look to have another smart one in Kakkoii (Kizuna) who broke his maiden over 1611m at Sale on Sunday.
Jumping away well under Blake Shinn where he crossed to the rail to lead, the short price favourite controlled the race from the get-go as the Ben, Will & JD Hayes trained 4yo Savabeel gelding Attack Force sat handy in second.
With 600m to run, Shinn amped up the pressure as he asked Kakkoii for an effort with the 3yo colt responding immediately.
Racing three lengths clear before the home turn, Kakkoii extend that margin a little crossing the line three and a quarter-lengths clear of Attack Force with a half-length back to Captain Cat in third.
Holding a nomination to the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m), and after Sunday’s win is 20/1 in markets for the Group 1 VRC Derby (2500m), the colt still has to step up to black type racing to prove himself, but he’s showing the right signs after just bthree starts.
His pedigree is an interesting one as he’s the first foal of the imported Japanese mare Riversleigh (Jpn) (Duramente), who is herself a daughter of the well-known Australian four-time Group 1 winner Mosheen (Fastnet Rock).
With Japan’s Katsumi Yoshida securing a 50% share in Mosheen during her racing career, the mare headed to Japan to commence her breeding career where to date she’s produced two stakes winners in the Group 3-winning, Group 1 placed Primo Scene (Deep Impact) and Listed winner Danon Ayres Rock (Maurice).
With Kakkoii’s family extending back to Group 1 Melbourne Cup, Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate winner Might And Power (Zabeel) as well as Group 1 Hong Kong Mile winner Lucky Owners (Danehill), the colt shouldn’t lack for stamina as he steps up in trip.
Interestingly, when Kakkoii was purchased as a yearling from the draft of Arrowfield Stud at the Magic Millions yearling sale for $380,000, Natalie Young was interviewed about the colt and also the stable’s interest in Japanese bloodlines.
“What I love about these Japanese-bred horses that we’ve had is that mentally, they are very intelligent, they can cop the pressure and they are quick to learn anything,” said Young.
“He is a big, strong colt and typical of that Deep Impact line.
“He can probably be that Guineas horse that could progress on to a Derby.
“He is my type of horse.”
A son of Deep Impact’s Group 1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) winner Kizuna, himself the Champion 3YO Colt in Japan in 2013, it’s interesting to note that the Japanese based stallion is from the same family as Saturday’s Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes winner Lazzura.
The sire of 42 stakes winners led by three individual Group 1 winners, Kizuna only has three named foals in Australia with Kakkoii being his first runner, and first winner.
