Four-year-old mare Kurabui, a half-sister to Group Two winner Surprise Baby by exciting Rich Hill Stud stallion Proisir, was an impressive winner on debut when winning at Pakenham over 1400m on Thursday night.
The Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr-trained mare was beautifully ridden by Michael Dee and stretched away from her rivals late, in a manner that indicates she has inherited some of the family ability.
“It was a beautiful ride by Mick Dee, but she is a nice filly and she was able to take him where he wanted to go. She travelled sweetly and didn’t overdo it,” Kent Jnr said.
“I loved the way, when the going got tough, she stretched out that last little bit.
“We have only had half mile jumpouts in this COVID era, so it is the first time she had been over a trip and it is really promising.
“She is a little bit exciting. She has got speed and got some gears and obviously a pedigree that says she will get a bit further.”
The promising galloper was bought sight unseen for a modest price on the recommendation of bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo from the stable of Kevin and Annette Hinton, who purchased the filly for just $1,000 at Karaka prior to Surprise Baby racing.
“We bought her based on Surprise Baby. We had no evidence that she could gallop, we were only going off the recommendation that the trainer said she was a nice mover, so we took it on trust,” Kent Jnr said.
“She has a lovely way about her. She’s been very slow to mature. But we didn’t buy her until she was three, so it hasn’t been too long to wait for the new owners.
“Her value with Surprise Baby, it would be nice to see him win a Group One because he has the potential to in the future. But she can gallop herself.
“She has a decent residual value, somewhere near the purchase price. So anything on the track is a bonus.”
