Supporters of the heavily-backed Kukeracha would have the heart in the mouth when he stepped away a length behind the field but the son of Night Of Thunder (IRE) powered home in the straight to make a most impressive career debut over 1200 metres at Geelong on Wednesday.
Carrying the familiar colours of Neville Morgan, the Chris Waller-trained colt was given a ground-saving rails ride by Craig Williams to be in a challenging position by the time the field wheeled for home.
Threading the needle between runners, Kukeracha charged home in the final 100 metres to defeat the Epaulette colt Milliondollarbill by a half length with the favoured Hinchinbrook colt Fixated a length back in third.
“He’s certainly impressed us to date. He has a lot of upside to him so to see him come here today and do it over a trip we feel is short of his best is definitely encouraging,” stable representative Jo Taylor told racing.com.
“Obviously he stepped away a bit slow, which is something we can improve on with maturity and racing.
“Craig was patient and snuck up along the rail then produced him at the right time. It took a little while for him to go through his gears but once he got stuck in I think he was quite impressive in the last 200m.”
“I don’t think there are any grand plans for him right now but in six months time over a mile and beyond you can expect a nice colt.
Kukeracha was purchased by Mulcaster Bloodstock for $130,000 out of the Waikato Stud draft at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale.
A half-brother to the Group III Keith F Nolan Classic and Listed Scone Cup winner Cameo (Shamardal), Kukeracha is the eighth foal and fifth winner of the royally-bred AP Indy mare Portrait Of A Lady (USA) whose daughter Pentimento produced last weeks Warwick Farm winner Flinders (Adelaide).
A half-sister to dual Group III winner Layman who placed in the Group 1 Prix Morny and Group 1 Grand Criterium, Portrait Of A Lady (USA) is out of the Nureyev mare Laiyl who is a three-quarter-sister to Pastorale the dam of Iffraaj.
Laiyl is a daughter of the Champion 3YO filly in Ireland in 1989 Alydaress (Alydar) the winner of the Oaks at Epsom who hails from the family of Desirable, Shadayid, Park Appeal and Cape Cross.
Godolphin parted with Portrait of a Lady (USA) at the 2017 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale where she was knocked down to Chris Phillips for $40,000 when carrying Kukeracha.
Waikato Stud consigned a filly by Sacred Falls out of Portrait of a Lady (USA) to the 2020 NZB Karaka Yearling Sale where she made$85,000 to the bid of McKeever Bloodstock / Alexander Racing.
After foaling a Scared Falls colt last spring Portrait of a Lady (USA) was covered by Ocean Park.
Kukeracha becomes the fourth winner from the only Australian crop by the dual Group 1 winning Dubawi stallion Night Of Thunder (IRE) who left just 58 live foals from his season for Darley in 2016 after which he was destined ot to return.
He is looking a real loss after leaving the Group III MRC Blue Diamond Preview (F) winner A Beautiful Night and the Listed MRC Redoute's Choice Stakes winner River Night.
