Sporting the famed silks of Te Akau Racing, Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson’s Home Affairs colt Kinnaird started favourite at Otaki on Sunday, fighting all the way to the line to score on debut, becoming the second winner for his Coolmore based sire.
Having placed in both his jumpouts leading into his debut, Kinnaird justifiably started the race favourite and after a good getaway from the barriers settled in second under Craig Grylls.
Pulling himself to the lead as they turned into the home straight, Kinnaird quickly got the better of race leader Bulter Cabin but needed to call on all his reserves to hold of the late challenge of runner Ka Ron, winning by a head margin with a further length back to Butler Cabin.
With a possible tilt at the $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO on January 24 on the cards, the prizemoney earned by Kinnaird on Sundy will see him climb up the all importnat order of entry ladder.
Purchased from the Highview draft at the 2025 New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale, by Te Akau’s David Ellis for $340,000, Kinnaird is one of five winners from five to the races out of the O’Reilly mare Orinda (NZ), a half sister to dual Group 3 winner Mr Ubiquitous and to the dam of Listed winner Onza Circuito.
Bred by the Hong Kong Breeders Club Limited, Kinnaird is a half-brother to the Group 1 ATC Derby (2400m) winner Jon Snow (NZ) and the Listed-winning, Group 3 placed Princess Rhaenys (NZ).
Unfortunately, Orinda missed to Best Of Bordeaux the year after foaling Kinnaird before being covered by High Chaparral’s Wrote (IRE) last season with no report of a foal so far.
From just a handful of runners, Home Affairs has been represented by the winning, Listed placed Harvey Wallbanger, Group 3 ATC Breeders’ Plate runner up I'm Ya Huckleberry and now Kinnaird.
With 46 yearlings catalogued for the upcoming Magic Millions Yearling Sale, more than any other sire, the dual Group 1-winning I Am Invincible stallion Home Affairs is currently finishing up covering his fourth book of mares, having stood at a fee of $82,500 (inc. GST) this season, with more than 600 mares covered in his first three seasons at Coolmore.
