Gutsy Randwick win for Kiss The Bride

[Wandering Eyes]

Almost exactly eight years on from the career-defining victory of I Do (NZ) (No Excuse Needed) in the Gr.1 Makfi Challenge Stakes (1400m) at Hastings, the outstanding grey mare made her presence felt in a different way at Randwick on Saturday.

I Do’s first foal, the Savabeel gelding Kiss The Bride (NZ), brought up the eighth win of his 42-start career with a remarkably tough victory in the Ikon Services Handicap (1600m).

Unplaced in the Listed Winter Challenge (1500m) in his previous appearance, Kiss The Bride showed more promising signs with a three-length trial win at Warwick Farm on August 15.

But expat New Zealand trainer Bjorn Baker had reservations about the seven-year-old’s prospects in the final race on Saturday’s card, particularly after an afternoon of heavy rain on an already wet Randwick track. Those chances looked even slimmer when Kiss The Bride was badly blocked early in the home straight.

But apprentice jockey Dylan Gibbons eventually found a narrow opening and drove Kiss The Bride through it, lunging at Wild Chap (Toronado) to snatch a thrilling win in the final stride.

“Everyone had picked that the fence was the place to be, and I didn’t have much room in the straight,” Gibbons said. “But we got through the gap in the end. I didn’t think we’d have enough momentum, but the horse really picked himself up off the canvas and wanted it, which was great to see.”

Bought by Bjorn Baker Racing and Blandford Bloodstock for $200,000 from Waikato Stud’s draft at Karaka 2017, Kiss The Bride has now earned A$581,905 in stakes.

“I gave him no chance today – I thought he’d really struggle in the track,” Baker admitted. “He’s got good ability, he’s good at a mile at Randwick and he’s very good second-up, but I thought it was hard to like him today. He had to be very tough.”

Kiss The Bride was bred by Waikato Stud in partnership with Allan Sharrock, who trained I Do throughout her 38-start, 15-win career. The daughter of No Excuse Needed is the dam of three winners from four foals to race, with Solid Contact (NZ) (Savabeel) a winner over 2100m and Ideal (NZ) (Savabeel) successful over both 1400m and 1600m.

I Do produced another Savabeel filly in 2019, followed two years later by a filly foal by Waikato Stud’s Caulfield Guineas (1600m) winner Super Seth. She returned to Super Seth again last spring.

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