Santo Guagliardo reached a Group 1 high in Perth when Bustler won the Railway Stakes (1600m) in November and he’s looking forward to Melbourne’s 3yo spring classics with his Group 1 filly Kuroyanagi.
Trainers Will Clarken & Niki O’Shea will spell Kuroyanagi following an exceptional third in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday. “She had been nominated for the Sydney autumn carnival but is still learning and will go to the paddock,” Guagliardo said on Monday morning.
“She will be more effective over a longer trip and a mile should suit in a race like the (Group 1) Thousand Guineas next season.”
Kuroyanagi (2f Written Tycoon – Tetsuko by I Am Invincible) had cost the Ridgeport Farm owner $390,000 at the 2023 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Her dam was Group 2-placed in the 2014 Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m) at Randwick and second-dam Magdalena (Snaadee) won the 1997 renewal of the LR Burgess Queen Stakes (1400m) at Ascot.
Hong Kong jockey Brenton Avdulla flew down for the Blue Diamond ride and he also rated her a filly with a future. “She’s Group 1-placed now and was really good but they’re nowhere near the bottom of her yet. I reckon she will develop into a lovely 3yo filly who will get 1400-plus.”
Clarken has been blown away by what Kuroyanagi (pictured) has accomplished in her first prep.
“It’s phenomenal the way she’s improved and handled the pressure. I’ve never had a juvenile who has strengthened and developed week-to-week like her. She’s a ferocious doer and isn’t fazed by anything.”
Meanwhile, Guagliardo is keen to see Bustler (Playing God) make amends in the G2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington this Saturday after disappointing first-up over 1400m at Caulfield three weeks ago. “He was run off his legs and was out of his comfort zone that day,” Guagliardo recalled. “It was run like a 1200m sprint and he was left chasing them right from the start. A mile this weekend will be more to his liking.”
Guagliardo sold a dozen yearlings under the Ridgeport Holdings banner at the Perth Magic Millions with the Zoustar – Run All Night filly topping the draft at $250,000. She was purchased by Melbourne trainer Lloyd Kennewell and was one of six yearlings on the Top 10 leaderboard to find a new home with interstate or international buyers.
Ridgeport Farm stallion Rommel was also well-received with 8 Book 1 yearlings averaging $65,000. Top of the dial was the son of Real Beauty (I Am Invincible) purchased by Simon Miller for $100,000. He was sold by Ruby Racing & Breeding and is from a full-sister to Lynward Park’s recent black-type winner Real Danger.
