KIPLING'S JOURNEY FOLLOWS A WINNING PATH

By Graham Potter | Wednesday, June 1, 2022

Mark Du Plessis completed a race to race double at Doomben on June 1 when, after saluting on Reeanon in the third race, he came out and won race four on Kipling’s Journey for the training partnership of Peter and Will Hulbert.

That race was a BM65 Handicap over 2040 metres in which Kipling’s Journey started as a $3.10 favourite on the back of a promising runner-up finish in his previous start over 2150m in a Three-Year-Old Handicap over 2010m on the Poly Track at the Sunshine Coast.

This time Kipling’s Journey, who put a Maiden victory behind his name back in December, would make no mistake in securing win number two.

Du Plessis, who was riding the son of Zoustar for the first time, took Kipling’s Journey back from the number seven barrier and immediately crossed towards the rail, racing at the rear of the field as the runners past the post for the first time, but ensuring that Kipling’s Journey would have a comfortable run for the majority of the trip.

Kipling’s Journey was up to second last, but still six lengths off the leader going down the back stretch as the field went along at a moderate gallop.

When to make a move was the question?

Du Plessis’s answer was to make that initial move in the sweep to the home turn.

There was no messing about once that decision had been made as Kipling’s Journey improved quickly around runners and was right up there in a three-horse leading line when the field straightened for home.

Kipling’s Journey did have to be brave to some degree in the final run home to sustain his effort, but over those final 400m he proved his superiority to score by a comfortable 1.75 length margin.

Du Plessis had ridden Kipling’s Journey like he was the best horse in the race, relaxing him early and the asking him for his effort at the appropriate time and then helping him to show his worth down the straight.

All in all, it was a well-executed victory.

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