Ole Kirk’s first season 2YOs began explosively when his runners hit the track on Saturday in the first NSW 2YO races of the season.
His first became a Stakes winner, with King Kirk taking the Breeders’ Plate (Gr.3, 1000m). His second was Stakes placed, with O’ Ole a gallant runner up in the Gimcrack Stakes (Gr.3, 1000m).
Both had won at Sydney’s first official two-year-old trials on September 23, which justified the early positive talk from trainers and breakers regarding Ole Kirk’s first crop.
King Kirk (2c x Oxford Angel), trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, was bred by Ged Nolan who recently welcomed a full brother into the world at his Warwick property.
The talented colt was initially sold by Rosari Farm for $200,000 at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale to Redwall Bloodstock. He was then pin-hooked through Widden Stud’s Magic Millions Yearling Sale draft this year, where he was purchased for $300,000 by his trainers, Belmont Bloodstock Agency, and My Racehorse Pty Ltd.
It was an impressive run for the debut 2YO. King Kirk was given time to find his feet, under jockey Rachel King, drifting back to seventh of the eight runners and finding some cover. Travelling sweetly behind the pace set by stablemate North England, King Kirk picked off runner after runner down the centre of the track to defeat the Extreme Choice colt Tempestuous by a half-neck with a head back to the Farnan colt North England.
Adrian Bott highlighted in his post-race interview that the colt will now go for a short spell and target the Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL) before a possible Golden Slipper campaign.
“He’s a lovely horse. Everything he’s done to date has just been very professional,” Bott said.
“He got a bit further back than expected today in the run, and it was a great effort to pick them up there in the final strides. An exciting horse going forward and rightly so, they (owners) should all be excited.”
“I think he’s a Magic Millions horse so I’d say that’s, first and foremost, the main target for him. We’ll look to give him a spell now and work back from there. And obviously, big picture you’re always looking for the Golden Slipper.”
Watch Adrian Bott’s post race interview HERE.
In the fillies edition of the 2YO features at Randwick, O’ Ole (2f x Vellor) utilised her extraordinary gate speed from a wide draw to stalk the leader Bel Merci and run a gallant second on debut in the Gr.3 Gimcrack Stakes.
Partnered, as well, by Rachel King and trained by Bjorn Baker, O ‘Ole looks to have an exciting future ahead of her. She was a $325,000 Magic Millions Yearling purchase by her trainer and Clarke Bloodstock from the same breeder as her sire – Rick Jamieson of Gilgai Farm.
