Saturday’s time-honoured and prestigious A$1 million Gr1 TAB Epsom run over a mile at Randwick turned into an all-Kiwi affair.
Kolding (NZ) (Ocean Park) and Te Akau Shark (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle), who fought out a stirring finish down the Randwick straight, are both Karaka graduates, while fellow New Zealand-bred Star of the Seas (NZ) (Ocean Park) finished third.
Kolding was given a perfect ride by Glen Boss, stalking the leaders before sprinting to the lead at the top of the straight with a terrific turn of foot.
Te Akau Shark appeared on his outside with a powerful finishing burst, and the pair drew three lengths ahead of the rest of the field to fight out a desperate finish. In a head-bobbing battle to the line, Kolding prevailed by a nose.
“He was very good,” Boss said. “When he got clear he loafed, and when Te Akau Shark came up to him he surged. Another furlong and he wouldn’t have been beaten.
“It’s been a long while since I’ve had a race where at no stage did I feel like I was going to get beat. In the Doncaster last year on Brutal (NZ) (O’Reilly) it was the same sort of scenario.”
Kolding was a $170,000 purchase from the draft of Wentwood Grange at the 2017 Premier Sale. Raced by Neville Morgan, he has won seven of his 14 starts and has now gone past A$1 million in prize-money – six times his purchase price.
“This was a lovely race for him,” trainer Chris Waller said. “These Randwick miles are races people talk about and owners want to win. Being such a big race, big field, there are so many of chances. We’ve been lucky to come out in front a few times. It’s a great spectacle.”
Kolding also became the first Gr1 winner for Waikato Stud stallion Ocean Park (NZ).
Kolding was bred by Warren Pegg and is a half-brother to two black-type performers – the three-time stakes winner Sampson (NZ) (Dubai Destination) and the Listed winner Miss Upstart (Snippetson). Sampson cost just $20,000 at the 2011 Festival Sale and has earned more than $450,000.
Another half-sibling, a filly by Iffraaj, was bought for $150,000 during Book 1 last year.
Te Akau Shark, meanwhile, was a $230,000 purchase at the 2016 Ready to Run Sale. He has had nine starts for five wins and three placings, earning more than $500,000 in stakes.
