Chris Waller will have a number of chances to win his fifth Epsom Handicap next month after Kiku booked her spot with a tough win in Saturday’s Theo Marks Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens.
The five-year-old mare by Zoustar was sent out as an $18 hope with online bookmakers, but when the race favourites Mr Mozart (2nd) and Ellsberg (6th) didn’t get ideal runs in transit, it set it up for the fast-finishing Kiku and Jason Collett to thunder home out wide.
Now a winner of six races, Kiku is $50,145 short of $1 million in career earnings, so she will get her chance to join the illustrious million-dollar club when she steps out next in the $1.5 million Epsom Handicap (1600m) on October 1.
2022 Theo Marks Stakes Race Replay
Waller has won four Epsom Handicaps in the past, and he believes Kiku has the constitution to join that quartet and make it five.
“She’s nominated for it,” he said.
“We thought enough of her to run her in the Doncaster back in the autumn, but just struggled on the very wet ground.
“Hopefully we can get some good weather in Sydney the next few weeks and she’ll be there.”
Winning rider Jason Collett said the mare showed an “electric” turn of foot, so there are plenty more wins in store for her.
“That speed helped,” Collett said.
“Obviously from the wide gate, Chris said if you can get ahead of a couple it would be great. She got into a lovely rhythm. And her turn of foot was pretty electric.
“She proved in the Queensland Winter that she can pick up a nice pay cheque/black type.
“Obviously today this is a huge addition to her page. It’s one of Chris Wallers, they just keep improving. The sky is the limit really.”
Kiku is now a $21 hope in the Epsom with betting sites, while stablemates Fangirl and Hinged sit at the top of the market at $6 and $8 respectively.
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