Photo credit: Bruno Cannatelli
Kahma Lass broke through for her first win on Australian soil on Saturday in the Listed Weekend Hussler Stakes (1400m).
Last season’s Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) winner proved too strong for her rivals and could now potentially be aimed at the Gr.1 Cantala Stakes (1600m) having ticked the Australian black-type box.
“It was great to see her return to winning form,” trainer Jamie Richards said after also winning the Gr.1 Might And Power Stakes with Probabeel who like Kahma Lass races in the black and gold checked silks of Brendan and Jo Lindsay.
“We’d been happy with her. She ran really well first-up, but we just needed a bit of luck on our side, and it was good to get back down in the weights and ride her more conservatively.
“I thought Brett gave her a lovely ride, was able to capitalise on a genuine tempo, got to the outside and really finished off well. It was a good strong win.
“She is a proper good mare on her day. There are a lot of options for her and I haven’t thought too much beyond today.
“A race like the Cantala does come to mind, a handicap, down in the weights. Whether that race is a little bit rich for her, I’m not sure, but there are plenty of options for her.
“It is a big team effort and with the restrictions around COVID everyone has got to play their part. The whole staff and everyone included has done an incredible job and I can’t thank them enough.”
Te Akau Racing's David Ellis went to $290,000 to secure Kahma Lass from the draft of Curraghmore, who presented the daughter of Darci Brahma on behalf of Greg Tomlinson’s Nearco Stud.
Kahma Lass is one of four stakes winners from the Listed-placed Orientate mare Distinctive Lass who is also the dam of Singapore Group Three winner Distinctive Darci.
Curraghmore were also represented on Saturday by Tofane who finished a strong second in the Gr.1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) to fellow kiwi-bred I'm Thunderstruck, and Slipintothis who continued his strong run of form with a win at Morphettville.
