Promising three-year-old Kygo Star overcame a wide journey to come out on top in a tight finish in the Allspark Electrical Maiden 3YO (1400m) at Avondale on Wednesday.
The Chad Ormsby-trained gelding was impressive on debut at Taupo, storming home late to finish second behind Oratia Beauty. Finishing third in that contest was Magic Carpet, who came out 10 days later to win the Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) at Te Rapa.
Despite the form coming out of the race, Kygo Star opened at $9 with the TAB, but that was swiftly snapped up by punters and he closed a well-supported $3.70 favourite ahead of Shoma ($3.90).
Kygo Star jumped positively from barrier nine but was unable to find cover, settling three-wide in the open for jockey Tayla Mitchell. He was still travelling strongly into the home turn and fought hard to get on even terms with Shoma at the 150m, but coming hard to his inside was Miss Parker, who looked like she was going straight past.
Showing tenacity in the final bounds, Kygo Star lifted off the canvas to hit the front right on the line, pipping Miss Parker by a half-head, with Shoma less than a length back in third.
Mitchell had been on board in his first raceday outing and saw plenty of improvement in the son of Wootton Bassett.
“He’s a really lovely horse, I really like him,” she said.
“It probably didn’t go to plan, I was three-wide but they’ve been quite messy races today and I didn’t have any interference, so it was pretty good.
“I think he learned a lot from Taupo, he was a bit green coming around the corner there and letting down, but he definitely let down today.”
Cambridge-based Ormsby was similarly impressed, having expected the step up to 1400m to suit.
“I just like the way he was beaten at the 100 but he really showed a big effort and grit to win by a half-head,” he said.
“He’s always been keen to get on with the job and he showed that grit in his last start and probably ended up winning the race after the line there. It was always encouraging going that bit further.”
Racing in the colours of breeders Jamieson Park, Kygo Star is out of a Camelot mare Star Karen, who placed in a Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m). – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
