While it may have taken until his fifth start to break his maiden, 3yo Pierata colt Kilbrannan has pedigree on his side and with the step up to 1300m, the Gary Portelli trained colt impressed at Newcastle on Sunday when breaking his maiden for Laurel Oak Bloodstock and partners.
Down to a field of just seven with two late scratching’s at the barriers coupled with the seven withdrawn runners on race day morning, Kilbrannan jumped away on the third line of betting with Ashley Morgan in the saddle.
Settling last in the run as the Annabel and Rob Archibald trained Tinklejazz, a full-sister to Group 1 winner D’Argento, took up the running with Militant sitting in second.
As the 600m mark was reached the leading duo were still travelling strongly while Morgan was bidding his time at the tail of the field.
Entering the home straight Tinklejazz started to race about under greenness, disadvantaging the Peter Snowden trained debut runner The Confidante who was starting to wind up.
Avoiding all the interference, Kilbrannan swept to the lead down the outside of the field, pulling away for an impressive length and a quarter win from the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou trained Explicit, while The Confidante managed to get himself going again after being interfered with the take third.
Purchased from the draft of Goodwood Farm at the Inglis Easter yearling sale by Laurel Oak Bloodstock Pty Ltd for $460,000, Kilbrannan is the third winner from three to race out of the So You Think mare Mull Over.
Mull Over’s first foal is the Group 1 ATC Golden Slipper and Group 1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes winner Fireburn (Rebel Dane) who was subsequently sold to Japan, while her second foal is the Group 2 winner Kintyre (Hallowed Crown), and since foaling Kilbrannan, Mull Over missed to Rebel Dane before producing a filly by the very same Widden Stud based sire before unfortunately slipping to Zoustar.
The sire of nine stakes performers headed by Group 3-winning, Group 1 Golden Slipper runner up Coleman, Pierata is standing this season for a fee of $55,000 (inc. GST) at Yulong in Victoria.
