Kadavar showcases staying credentials

[Wandering Eyes]

Up-and-comer Kadavar extended his perfect record at 2400m to two-from-two with a stylish victory in Saturday’s A$160,000 TAB Handicap (2400m) at Rosehill.

The Tarzino gelding has now had 11 starts for four wins, earning A$170,025 for his owners Neville Morgan and David Devine.

Kadavar won the first two starts of his career at Ipswich and Doomben earlier this year, then stepped up to 2400m for the first time with victory on the Kensington track in June.

The four-year-old headed into Saturday’s assignment with a form line that had steadily improved as distances increased this spring, finishing fifth over 1580m, fourth over 1800m and a last-start second over 2140m.

The step up back up to 2400m on Saturday brought him right into his element, and he finished strongly out of the pack to win by a length for jockey Joao Moreira.

“It all went our way,” Moreira said. “He had a good gate and hugged the rail, and they went at a solid tempo out in front. He finished it off strongly in the end.”

Kadavar is trained by Chris Waller, who was represented at Rosehill on Saturday by his assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth.

“I thought he was a bit unlucky not to win last start,” he said. “He was stepping up in distance and grade today, which isn’t easy. But he got a beautiful run through, and then when he had to be strong late and dig deep, he did that very well.”

Kadavar was bred by Gerry Harvey and was offered in Westbury Stud’s draft at Karaka 2022, where Mulcaster Bloodstock and Chris Waller Racing bought him for $300,000.

He is one of seven winners from nine foals to race out of the Danehill Dancer mare Arapaho Miss, who herself won the Gr.1 VRC Oaks (2500m). Her daughter Miami Bound followed suit with her own victory in the Flemington fillies’ classic in 2019, while De Little Engine won eight races up to Listed level.

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