On October 1 1986, the Luskin Star filly Mother Duck won the Group III Gimcrack Stakes at Randwick, defeating a future dual Group 1 winner, Judyann, and became an instant cult heroine.
Unbeaten in three starts in Sydney, Mother Duck headed for the inaugural Magic Millions at the Gold Coast, where her winning run ended when third behind a couple of handy ones in Snippets and Prince Anton.
Back in Sydney, the Paul Sutherland-trained filly finished second to fellow Luskin Star filly Postage Due in the STC Sweet Embrace Stakes and was behind her again in the Magic Night Stakes when both had to bow to Tennessee Vain.
Mother Duck failed in the Golden Slipper, which was won by Marauding. It was a common theme throughout her career; she failed to run a strong 1200m against the best sprinters.
A half-sister to the AJC Surround Stakes and Flight Stakes winner Office (Metal Precieux), Mother Duck claimed the AJC The Shorts, June Stakes and Birthday Card Quality at three, retiring with a noteworthy record of nine wins and four placings from 22 starts.
Mother Duck is the fourth dam of King Kirk, who looks to get Vinery Stud's Ole Kirk off to a flyer in Saturday's Group III Arrowfield Breeders' Plate (1000m) at Randwick.
He is one of five runners for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott. All but one are in the betting, with the likely favourite being the $1,550,000 Inglis Australian Easter yearling Tuscany.
A $200,000 pinhook for Redwall Bloodstock from the Rosari Farm draft at the 2003 National Weanling Sale, King Kirk was the most expensive of the eleven weanlings to sell from the first crop of Ole Kirk.
Widden Stud consigned the chestnut to the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. My Racehorse Pty Ltd/Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott/Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) had the final say at $300,000.
He is the third foal of the Nicconi mare Oxford Angel, a winner at Wyong and Gosford for Kim Waugh, who trained his half-brother Oxford Poet to eight wins and 17 placings from 45 starts highlighted by the Listed ATC Winter Stakes while banking over $730,000.
Granddam Oxford Princess (Magic Ring) is a three-quarter sister to Quack, the dam of the dual Listed stakes-winner Antina (Fastnet Rock) and Listed winner Pricked (Thorn Park), and a half-sister to the dam of ATC Hall Mark Stakes winner Ladys Angel (Arena).
Mother Duck contested Group 1, The Galaxy, twice with little luck, but her descendants fared better.
Anitina separated Tiger Tees and Villa Verde in the 1100 feature in 2014, and Ladys Angel placed third behind Temple of Boom two years earlier, having filled the same place at her previous start behind Atlantic Jewel and Mid Summer Music in the Group II Sapphire Stakes.
Bred by Ged Nolan, King Kirk was the consummate professional when winning his heat at the Randwick official 2-year-old barrier trials.
The same applies to his four stablemates. Kia Ora Stud's Golden Slipper winner Farnan has a live hope in North England, and Kingstar Farm will be looking for a result from Crown The King, a son of their first-season sire Time To Reign.
Ole Kirk has one of the favourites in the Group III Keeneland Gimcrack Stakes, the Bjorn Baker-trained O' Ole, who, like King Kirk, will be ridden by Rachel King.
