Reigning champion sire Zoustar is better known for his sprinters, but Chris and Corey Munce have done a great job in maximizing the potential of his progressive four year-old gelding Kaluakoi, who led all the way to win the $250,000 Listed Ipswich Cup (2150m) on Saturday.
With two wins from his previous four starts in his current campaign, Kaluakoi has been making good progress through his grades and with just 53kg and an inside gate, he always looked capable of talking the quantum leap.
Given a perfect ride by apprentice jockey Emily Lang, Kaluakoi travelled smoothly in front and gave a great kick turning for home.
He stuck to his guns, holding off a challenge to win to win by three-quarters of a length from seasoned campaigner Encoder, whose half-brother Soothsayer won the following race on the program, the Listed Eyeliner Stakes.
“It was a race we'd sort of targeted. My only query was that hadn't had a run over the 2,000 meters, that was my only really concern, but he’s just a tough stayer,” said Chris Munce.
“I thought the other day. He was just probably a bit soft in the run and he could have done a bit more work. He's got no real turn of foot, but he's a tough galloper.”
As an apprentice that has outridden her claim, Emily Lang has found the going tough over the carnival in terms of opportunity, but she showed she can get the job done in style.
Kaluakoi was passed in as a yearling at Inglis Easter and has had several different trainers earlier in his career before heading north to Queensland last year to join the Chris and Corey Munce stable.
He was offered on Bloodstockauction earlier this year selling for $137,500 and runs in the colours of Flying Start syndications for a big syndicate of owners that are enjoying the ride with his overall record now seven wins and five placings from 25 starts with prizemoney topping $445,000.
Bred by Emmanuel Bloodstock and foaled and raised at Newhaven Park, Kaluakoi is a sibling to stakes performers Ala Moana and Palani and is the first stakes-winner among 10 winners from terrific producer Fantasy Gal (USA), a stakes-placed import.
Fantasy Gal had a couple of years off in 2023 and 2024 and appears to be in foal to Spirit of Boom.
Kaluakoi is the 82nd stakes-winner for Widden Stud’s champion sire Zoustar, who stands at a fee of $275,000 this spring.
Zoustar enjoyed a great Saturday with five winners in Australia that included exciting sprinter Ice Kool, who made it four wins from five starts at Randwick.
