Fresh off a win in a 1600 maiden at Wyong, the Chris Waller-trained Kinane put a top-class field to the sword in Saturday’s Group III Cactus Imaging Frank Packer Plate (2000m) at Randwick.
Under a rails skimming ride by James McDonald, the son of Reliable Man came from midfield to chase down the thoroughly game leader Entente (Dundeel) who held a commanding lead at the 200 metres but began to shorten stride as Kinane went on to win by from the Snitzel colt Bottega who edged out Entente for second.
It was just the fourth start for Kinane who was second at his first two starts, at Bendigo when trained by his part-owner Michael Kent, and Warwick Farm when switched to Chris Waller, before his commanding win at Wyong after having a troubled run.
“He gives me a very special feel, the feel of the carnival for mine and he is a very special horse,” McDonald said.
“Once he got out, he had many lengths to make up and he did it effortlessly.
“It’s nice to tick off that Group box and now he can go forward to bigger and better things. As a four-year-old, you will see a very special horse.
“He did all his education with Mick Kent who did a marvellous job and I hope he’s watching."
Chris Waller also praised Kent.
“Full credit to Michael Kent who sent me this horse It’s a trainer’s privilege when he gets a call from another trainer but not only did he say he would send him to me to train he said that this is a Frank Packer Plate horse and that was three months ago,” Waller said.
“So he is a pretty good judge if not an exceptional judge and he knows his horses so thanks to him and his owners. Hope he stays away from this coronavirus and keeps me with him for a bit longer yet.”
“He will be nominated for the South Australian Derby. Normally he would go to the Queensland Derby, I think that was the original plan.”
Purchased by Phill Cataldo Bloodstock for $165,000 out of the Phoenix Park draft at the 2018 NZB Ready To Run Sale of 2YOs, Kinane is the first foal of the Nom de Jeu mare Tres Rapide whose dam Suriyan (Savabeel) is a half-sister to the Group III winner Magic Dancer (Rip Van Winkle) out of the dual stakes-winning Desert Sun mare Dazzling Belle who was fourth in the Group 1 New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas.
Tres Rapide had just one more foal, a 2yo filly by Shocking before her death at the age of seven.
Bred by Nearco Stud, Kinane becomes the 11th stakes-winner for Westbury Stud’s French Derby winner Reliable Man (GB) (Dalakhani x On Fair Stage, by Sadler's Wells) who was trained by Chris Waller to win the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick.
