Odd-on favourite Kovalica completed a fantastic day for owner Neville Morgan, trainer Chris Waller, and jockey James McDonald when he put the field to the sword in the $1,000,000 Group 1 Ladbrokes Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Enjoying a perfect passage midfield, one off the fence, the son of Ocen Park peeled out four wide on the turn and turned the race into a procession.
Eased down in the final 50 meters, Kovalica defeated the game Manhattan Rain gelding Fame by two lengths, with the Fastnet Rock gelding Stroke Of Luck the same distance back in third.
The same connections teamed up earlier in the day with Kukeracha in the Group III Premiers Plate. Kukeracha won the Queensland Derby in 2001.
“He has had the perfect preparation for getting the trip. Prior to Christmas, he ran 2100m,” Waller said.
“There was a hiccup two weeks ago, but we didn’t panic, gave him that extra run, and once he hit the front, I thought he was fit enough, he will be right.
“It was a faultless ride, and the barrier draws make things much easier. James cleverly got out in the three-wide line at about the half-mile because he had done nothing until that stage, so he was entitled to get out and make his own luck.”
“It’s been a great success story with Neville, Dave, and Guy. They are a pleasure to train for, as most of our owners are, making my job a lot easier.”
Bred by Nearco Stud, Kovalica advances his record to six wins and two thirds from nine starts with earnings of $1,171,750
The son of Ocean Park was a $110,000 Karaka Book 1 purchase for Mulcaster Bloodstock from the Curraghmore draft, and he runs for Neville Morgan and David Devine.
Kovalica is the first winner for Vitesse, a winning half-sister by Makfi (GB) to triple Group I winner The Bostonian and Group III winner Cheval d’Or (Almanzor) from the family of two-time NZ Horse of the Year King Mufhasa and Group III winner Sacred Satono.
Vittese’s Super Seth filly failed to make her $200,000 reserve at Karak after making $85,000 as a weanling.
Vitesse was covered by Ocean Park again last spring.
Kovalica is the fourth Group 1 winner for Waikato Stud’s Ocean Park.
