Improving off a debut fifth, the Anthony and Sam Freedman trained Godtfred Kirk (Ole Kirk) appreciated the step up to 1400m, with the half-brother to Golden Slipper winner Mossfun breaking his maiden in Wednesday’s Sportsbet Jockey Watch Plate at Sandown.
Settling in second last position on the outside of race favourite Miewa (Maurice) after jumping away from the outside gate, jockey Jamie Mott was content to bide his time as King Maywin (King’s Legacy) controlled the race from the front.
As the pace started to slacken with about 600m to go, Mott saw an opportunity to start making ground, pulling even wider to commence his run.
Once balanced, Godtfred Kirk let down under Mott with a powerful sprint, chasing down the eventual third placed Rock The Jools (NZ) (Fastnet Rock) before holding off the late charge of Autumn Mystery (The Autumn Sun) to hold a three-quarter length winning margin on the line.
Purchased for $150,000 from the draft of Fairview Park Stud at the Inglis Classic yearling sale by PR Thoroughbreds, Godtfred Kirk is the eighth winner from eight to the races out of the unraced Snitzel mare Eye For Fun.
Eye For Fun is not only the dam of Group 1 Golden Slipper winner Mossfun, who is in turn the dam of the Group 3 Festival Stakes-winning Frankel stallion Dajraan who will cover his second book of mares this season at a fee of $17,500 (inc. GST), but also the dam of the multiple Singapore stakes winner Aramco (Magic Albert).
From a pedigree on the move of late, Mossfun is also the granddam of the Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G) winner Bodyguard (I Am Invincible) who will stand his debut season at Tasmania's Armidale Stud this season for $8,800 (inc. GST).
Eye For Fun produced a full brother to Godtfred Kirk the following season before missing to Hellbent, with the mare due to foal this season to Widden Stud’s Jacquinot.
Crowned Champion First Season Sire last season off the back of four first crop stakes winners, Ole Kirk will stand at a fee of $99,000 (inc. GST) this season at Vinery Stud.
