3 minute read
Kerri Kulic racked up her first winning double as a trainer on Sunday when Kriegspiel and promising four-year-old gelding Muchacho saluted in their respective races at Canberra's Thoroughbred Park.
Kriegspiel won his race in the feature event at Thoroughbred Park - the Food On The Run Catering Benchmark 70 Handicap over 1600-metres.
The six year-old gelding came wide onto the straight from fifth place to finish strongly, holding out the fast finishing Moorings Royal to win by half a length.
Kriegspiel has had a consistent campaign at Thoroughbred Park this season, winning twice and placing in his last two races at the venue.
Kulic said she was ecstatic with Kriegspiel's performance after narrowly losing out in his last start at Canberra over a 400-metre longer trip.
“He is such an honest horse and really deserved to win today,” Kulic said. “It was a class record too which made it all the more impressive”.
Experienced jockey Brad Pengelly rated Kriegspiel well but believes the gelding still needs to find improvement despite having a strong campaign so far.
“He won with a lot of authority today, but he is going to have to keep improving if he is to go to the next level,” Pengelly said.
“He's doing everything right at the moment, has been really consistent and was rewarded with a win today”.
Kulic's second winner came in the next race of the meeting which was delayed over 20-minutes due to closing thunderstorms in the area.
Local jockey Brendan Ward rode the promising four year-old gelding, Muchacho in the BAP Catering Benchmark 60 Handicap over 1200-metres.
It was his third career start following back-to-back victories at Sapphire Coast, and last start in Canberra.
Muchaho jumped wide from barrier ten but was too strong for everyone in the 11 horse field, pipping the Doug Cole trained Brimstone over the final 100-metres to win by a short neck.
“Muchacho is such a nice horse and is three-from-three now which is fantastic,” said Kulic.
“I will probably start him here again next start. I just want to take him through nice and steady while he is still learning.
“He is still quite green at the moment, so maybe next preparation we will take him to race against some tougher fields”.
Kulic's two winners have seen her jump into outright second place in the Canberra Trainers Premiership this season.
