Well-bred stayer bags Christmas Cup

[Wandering Eyes]

Progressive stayer Kadavar maintained his perfect record over 2400m when recording a strong win in the Listed Christmas Cup (2400m) at Randwick on Saturday.

The Chris Waller-trained four-year-old is in a rich vein of form, notching a hattrick of victories including bouncing between assignments in Sydney and Melbourne and has now won all four of his 2400m starts.

Ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, Kadavar took up a more forward position after initially settling midfield and tracked eventual runner-up Alalcance, who shot to the lead before being gradually worn down by the winner.

The son of Gr.1 VRC Derby (2500m) winner Tarzino and Gr.1 VRC Oaks (2500m) winner Arapaho Miss is now doing exactly what his pedigree suggests.

“He has turned into a winner, that’s for sure,” Waller said.

“He has been up and down the country-side but he is enjoying his racing and he keeps going to another level each time he runs.

“I think he is four from four over 2400m and he is out of an Oaks winner and he is a sibling to an Oaks winner.

“I think he will get to a higher-level. That will do for this prep but if you have got a good stayer, there are some good races for them.”

Winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy was not surprised to see Kadavar again perform well, especially off the limit weight of 53kgs.

“I knew he would run the trip well and he got out into a nice spot and the horse in front of me wasn’t really travelling and taking me along and was almost getting detached from the horses I thought were going to be hardest to beat,” he said.

“I was able to come out, make a bit of a move and be a bit closer around the back lane and he showed a good attitude when I asked him.”

Kadavar has had 13 starts for six wins and two placings, earning A$351,525 for owners Neville Morgan and David Devine.

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 won the 2007 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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