It is not for nothing that Rhys and Chloe Smiths Kulani Park have a well-earned reputation as the king of pinhookers. Two foals bred by Jenny Watson and purchased by Kulani Park out of the fertile paddocks in Tasmania made it a memorable day out at Sandown on Saturday.
The Magnus gelding Kemalpasa got the ball rolling when he added the Group III Kevin Heffernan Stakes to his back to back wins in the Group II Linlithgow Stakes.
Then Palentino’s half-brother Junipal earned an overdue maiden stakes win in the Zircodata Sandown Stakes (1500m).
Following wins at Moonee Valley and Caulfield, Junipal found the race in class in the Group 1 Toorak handicap beyond him at his most recent start.
Ridden by John Allen for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, Junipal overpowered Kenya (Galileo) by one and quarter lengths with Buffalo River (Noble Mission) a length back in third.
A half-brother to dual Group 1 winner Palantino, Junipal advances his record to six wins, four seconds and five thirds from 23 starts with earnings of $508,995.
Maher said the five-week freshen-up had topped him off.
“He just felt his last run, and it took him a little bit to get over it,” Maher said.
“Then we just dodged a couple of firm tracks, and Tim has prepared Sandown perfectly.
“Johnny has a really good association with him. The team have done a great job. He spends a bit of time down the beach, and he has a great group of owners.
"We tried to get him into a couple of Group 1s as a colt to see if we could keep the dream alive, but now as a gelding he is lighter, more athletic His form is probably reflecting that."
The Launceston-based Watson has little more than a handful of mares. Recognised with a ‘Thoroughbred Excellence’ award at the Godolphin Stud & Stable Staff Awards, she bred Junipal from a mating with her star broodmare Palatine Hill (Palace Music), who Watson had purchased for $25,000 at the 2011 Inglis Great Southern Sale.
One of six winners from eight starters out of his dam, Junipal is the final foal bred by Watson out of Palantine Hill who was sold privately to Robert Crabtree.
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing outlaid $300,000 for a Snitzel colt out of Palatine Hill offered by Bhima Stud at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. He has been named Prince Of Rome.
Palantine Hill has a yearling colt by Magnus and foaled a Mikki Isle (JPN) colt on October 31.
Junipal becomes the 34th stakes-winner for Darley Studs pensioned Reset.
