Kolding (NZ) Extends Winning Streak in Guineas

Karaka graduate Kolding (NZ) (Ocean Park) has brilliantly passed his first black-type test, recording a fourth consecutive win with an outstanding performance in Saturday’s A$350,000 Group 2 Ascot Green Queensland Guineas (1600m) at Eagle Farm.

Bought for $170,000 at the 2017 Premier Sale, Kolding went into the three-year-old feature with four wins to his name from 10 career starts. He had won all of his last three appearances in handicap races in Sydney.

Saturday’s Guineas was by far his toughest test to date, and he handled it superbly.

Trained and ridden by expat New Zealanders Chris Waller and James McDonald, Kolding dropped back to fourth last in a big field and was three off the fence.

McDonald turned him loose down the outside of the Eagle Farm straight, racing up alongside Baccarat Baby(Casino Prince) and getting her measure in a head-to-head duel to the finish.

Kolding has now won five races and A$361,150 in prize-money for Queensland owner Neville Morgan – more than double his purchase price.

Waller said the talented galloper has made a marked improvement since being gelded earlier this year.

“It's been the making of this horse, he's four from four since he's been gelded,” he said. “Prior to being gelded, he had the ability but didn't want to be a racehorse.

“I think he's the right horse to go through to the spring. An Epsom (Group 1, 1600m) type of horse in my opinion.

"He's owned in the same interests as Rangirangdoo (NZ) (Pentire), who won that race, and this race looks a good launching pad."

McDonald was impressed with his mount’s performance.

“He's a horse that's really found his race-craft,” he said. “I was able to just sit on quietly on him throughout the run. He didn't spend a penny and that showed in the finish.

“When I asked him for an effort over that last couple of hundred, he kept responding, he's in winning form and knew where the line was.”

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.