KUKERACHA AND SENOR TOBY GO HEAD TO HEAD IN A STIRRING, GROUP 1 QUEENSLAND DERBY FINISH

By Graham Potter | Tuesday, June 1, 2021

A big part of the enjoyment of watching prime-time carnival racing is the added value experience which comes from watching the best in the business do battle … and when James McDonald goes head-to-head with Hugh Bowman in a tough, stride for stride battle when it matters most … well, it just takes it all to a higher level.

That is exactly what happened in the Group 1 Queensland Derby where Kukeracha (McDonald) and Senor Toba (Bowman) joined issue over the last 200m. It was a case of the survival of the fittest and neither would give an inch. When it looked like the big grey Senor Toba might overpower Kukeracha, the latter dug in and refused to let his stable companion Senor Toba go past without a fight.

For trainer Chris Waller, he could merely enjoy the thrill of the battle without being anxious. He would have another Group 1 win to his credit whichever runner won.

The result remained in doubt until the very last stride where Kukeracha still maintained the narrowest of advantages. You could literally see McDonald throw his reins at Kukeracha in the final stride to help ensure victory for the son of Night Of Thunder (Ire).

Kukeracha had been building to this success having finished third behind Private Eye in the Queensland Guineas (over 1600m) and second to Criminal Defence in the Rough Habit (over 2000m) in his two previous starts … and he was rock hard fit here which allowed him to prevail in a punishing finish in his first attempt over 2400m.

The lightly raced Senor Toba (he has had as many trials and he has had races) won the Group 3 Packer Plate two runs prior to the Derby and then finished third in the Rough Habit last time, when only half-a-length behind the second placed Kukeracha, so there was arguably again always going to be little between these two Waller trained runners.

Explosive Jack’s attempt to land a remarkable fourth Derby victory to his name for the season remained a real possibility halfway up the straight where Explosive Jack was racing alongside Kukeracha. As this duo closed on the leader Achiever, another Waller trained runner, John Allen on Explosive Jack switched in to be able to go past Achiever, while Kukeracha was able to keep a straight course.

For a brief moment there were four horses across the track. Achiever was the first to feel the pinch and then the Kukeracha / Senor Toba battle also edged past the game Explosive Jack to supply a grandstand two-horse finish.

“They were both good rides,” Waller said of his quinella. “James (McDonald) had the best draw, so we won’t give him as much credit, but for Hugh (Bowman), to be able to slot in and get in where he did was a special ride and he came into the race nicely.

“When I saw Explosive Jack kicking on the inside, I thought we were going to run a nice second or third, but to both of the horse’s credit and to Lofty (Brett Killion) and my team up here they have all done a great job.

‘We had a great opinion of Kukeracha as a two-year-old but he sort of lost his way a little bit.

“It was a typical story. He was gelded and just taken through the system.
“He ran a good race up here in the Grand Prix in the summer (when winning over 1600m at Eagle Farm). I just wanted to give him some experience on this track … and I think maybe that has been a good move because his run in the Queensland Guineas was good, in the Rough Habit was good and today’s run was brilliant,” concluded Waller.

“It was too close for comfort,” said James McDonald.

‘it was a bit of a hard, old canter back afterwards not knowing who got it, but I’m just rapt.

“Luke Dittman, who has been riding him, said all week that he (Kukeracha) would be cherry ripe today. He is just a good horse. He deserved it.’

McDonald admitted he had a bit of luck on his side in terms of getting to ride what turned out to be the winner of the race. He rode Senor Toba in the grey’s last run, but switched saddles this time to ride Kukeracha … not that the choice had anything to do with McDonald.

“I’ve got no say in what horse I ride for Chris Waller. Chris makes the decisions, and I was lucky enough to be on the right horse today.”

Hugh Bowman, the rider of the runner-up Senor Toba complimented his horse.

“Very proud of him. Disappointed, but very proud of his effort,” said Bowman.

The Queensland Derby result produced Group 1 win number 126 for Chris Waller, taking him past the 125 total amassed by Lee Freedman, while James McDonald now has 52 group 1 wins to his credit.

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