KISUKANO FINISHES THIRD IN LONG-AWAITED COMBACK

By Graham Potter | Tuesday, November 2, 2021

Kisukano’s return after a five-month layoff came in a testing line-up in the Spring Cup Open Quality Handicap over 1000m at Eagle Farm on November 2.

The $2.15 favourite Le Palmier was looking for two wins in a row. The $3.70 second favourite Simply Fly had previously underlined his quality with a win in the lucrative QTIS Three-Year-Old Jewel and Kisukano’s three remaining rivals also all had claims.

Kyleash had finished second to the James Cummings trained Varda in the Listed Chief de Beers. King Klaus was a ten-time winner from only eighteen starts and was a distance specialist while the veteran Tycoon Ace, while now seemingly lacking that winning edge, seldom finished far off the action … so it was to be a real test for Kisukano first-up into a new preparation.

It didn’t help matters when Kisukano didn’t jump cleanly, which left her four to five lengths behind the front-running King Klaus in the early part. Kisukano’s chase was good though and the mare joined the back of the leading group in the approach to the home turn and looked to be travelling well enough when cornering four wide, within striking distance of the lead.

Kylease was just to Kisukano’s inside at that time, and both of these runners started their runs together. Kylease held the advantage over Kisukano early in the straight and the Steven O’Dea and Matthew Hoysted trained runner steadily worked her way to the head of affairs with Kisukano fighting on valiantly behind her.

Try as she might, Kisukano could not bridge the gap to Kylease and, when Simply Fly produced a strong, late finish, Kisukano ultimately had to settle for a creditable third place, 2.90 lengths behind the winner.

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