Progressive New Zealand-bred galloper Kissinger (NZ) (Tavistock) provided further evidence of his staying prowess when he produced a sustained home straight burst to comfortably score his first stakes success in Saturday’s Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m)
Under the guidance of Damien Oliver, the lightly raced seven-year-old sat back in the early running before looping into contention approaching the home bend.
Unleashed by Oliver at the 300m the son of Tavistock quickly mastered the front runner Nobel Heights (Fiorente) as he surged to an impressive two-length victory and into calculations for some of the better distance events to come over the summer.
Stable representative Caitlin McLarn was quick to praise the work of Oliver aboard the winner.
“Ollie and this horse are such a good combination, he just works him out perfectly,” she said.
“I was pretty confident to be honest, he didn’t want to expose him too early and he gave him a perfect ride and he was just super good to the line.
“He had a good preparation early on, he just had a few unlucky runs, maybe not the best rides, but he’s been so consistent.
“He’s been up for nearly a whole year now, he’s just done a great job, he just keeps bouncing back after each run and he’s thriving off his racing.”
McLarn nominated an upcoming Flemington distance feature that Smith may consider as a possible target for Kissinger later this month.
“The Bagot (Listed, 2800m) has been thrown around, as he’s won that quite convincingly today,” she said
“I’d say if he pulls up well then Lindsey might head that way.”
Oliver had been keen to secure the mount on Kissinger after noticing him early on when riding against him.
“He’s just gone from strength to strength. I noticed him early in this preparation when l was riding against him and I thought he’s a horse I’d like to get on,” Oliver said.
“I managed to get on him and we’ve just really clicked – sometimes you just really click with horses and we have, he’s a lovely stayer, got a beautiful attitude and he certainly makes your job a bit easier.
“I had Milford in front of us and Sound on the outside, so I was following a couple of nice horses and he just chimed in at the right time.
“He’s just progressed really well this horse, it’s not often, he’s a whisker off being four straight which would have been quite a record so he’s a really nice progressive stayer.”
Oliver is keen to stick with Kissinger although that may not be until the autumn if Smith decides to forego some summer targets and send the horse for a spell.
“He’s had a pretty long preparation, but I’ll leave that up to Lindsey,” he said.
“He knows his horses well, but he might be starting to feel the firmer tracks, he’s done a good job to here, he’s earned a good break if that’s the way they’re thinking”
Bred by Peter Setchell, Kissinger is by Tavistock and was purchased out of the Millfield Stud draft at the Premier Sale at Karaka in 2017 by local trainer Nigel Tiley for $52,500.
Kissinger won two of his three starts for Tiley before being sent to the stable of Smith in 2020 where he now sports the colours of Spicer Thoroughbreds and has won another five races and just over $449,000.
His granddam is the Group Two winner Christiania Belle (NZ) (Sackford) and included in his extended family are a host of black type winners including Finezza Belle (NZ) (Sir Tristram) who was placed in both the Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2400m) and Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) of her three-year-old season.
