Craig Zackey is having an outstanding season with numerous feature wins, most notably on Rascova with two front-running efforts in her two Graded stakes races. His success continued with Kinda Wonderful in the Irridescence Stakes, named after the champion Team Valor-owned filly from yesteryear.
Unlike his front-running rides on Rascova earlier this season, the adaptable Zackey had Kinda Wonderful positioned second from last. Richard Fourie led the race, setting a strong pace with Sahara Cat, who was trying the distance for the first time and struggled towards the end. Her drift in the betting suggested that the 1500 meters might be too far. In contrast, Kinda Wonderful, who was second last time out in a 1400-meter Juvenile Plate and beaten by a subsequent Langerman runner-up, found the distance suitable.
As the race progressed and they turned for home, the sticky underfoot conditions began to affect the frontrunners. The penetrometer reading was 28 around the bend, with rainfall during the week affecting the going.
In the final stretch, Kinda Wonderful, the even-money favorite, started to gain traction. She held off a late challenge from Dixieland Band, from the Ennion barn.
Kinda Wonderful is sired by champion Gimmethegreenlight, an Australian-bred son of More Than Ready.
KINDA WONDERFUL
Sex: Filly
Age: 2
Sire: GIMMETHEGREENLIGHT (AUS)
Dam: OUTRAGE
Dam Sire: BLACK MINNALOUSHE (USA)
Breeder: Varsfontein Stud
Owner: Canine Solutions CC (D C O'Driscoll), Mauritzfontein (Pty) Ltd (J B Jell), N P Malherbe, Nick & Val McFall, A E Sands & Wilgerbosdrift (Pty) Ltd (M Slack)
