Nicholls' Kia Kaha now set for the Golden Chase main event

By Pat McLeod

Experienced South East Queensland trainer Warren Nicholls is hoping to emulate the 2023 success of Greg Stella’s Magistrate in the Ipswich Auction Series following a record-breaking ‘round one’ win to Kia Kaha on Saturday night.

Last year Magistrate won both the 431 and 520 metre features of the Auction series, now rebranded as the Golden Chase Sprint over 431 metres and the Golden Chase over 520 metres.

Nicholls said the $100,000-to-the-winner 520 metre Final to be held on April 13 was now his target after Saturday night’s comprehensive performance in winning the 431 metre event.

The daughter of Zipping Garth and Daniel's Loss not only stormed home to win by four and a quarter lengths over Another Level (trained by Gerard Bowe) and Johnny Koala (Jemma Daley), but also set a new mark for that race at 24.78 seconds. 

The previous best for that race was set in 2021 by Little Byrnes at 24.81 seconds. 

"We'll go into next week's Rising Stars series (520 metres) at Ipswich if she pulls up Ok," Nicholls said.

“But, the priority is the is the Golden Chase 520 metre event.”

There was always going to be plenty of quality and quantity in this year’s Golden Chase events following the announcement in 2022 that the graduates from that year’s auction would be racing for bumper prize money in 2024, including $100,000 to the winner of the 520 metre race.

Nicholls’ latest kennel star earned favouritism for Saturday night’s Final on the back of wins in both the heats and semi-final.

"I thought I was a big chance in the race and when she jumped in front my confidence lifted, particularly as Comedy Act didn't jump as well,” Nicholls said after the $14,000-to-the-winner race.

"Kia Kaha is definitely a little race dog. She's very consistent and puts in 100 per cent. She just wants to race.

"Her first section in the Final was brilliant. She put it all together when it mattered.”

Nicholls said Kia Kaha's maturity - her record stands at $69,940 in prize money - had been a big influence on the result.

"She'd had more starts than some of the others," Nicholls said.

"She's more seasoned and that’s a big advantage in Finals.”

Mick Johnston’s Comedy Act, who finished fourth in Saturday night’s Final, was the talk of this year’s series after posting a lightning 24.59 second run in the opening round of heats.

He also won his semi-final, in 24.85 seconds.

However, in the Final, the Cosmic Chief and Who Nose Size youngster found early interference after jumping from box four.

The Churchable-based Nicholls has a strong kennel at the moment that includes the very smart Inconspicuous, who will contest Monday’s Group 3 $112,500 Bundaberg Cup.

Nicholls achieved significant Group success with his stand out distance bitch Days Of Thunder, who retired to the breeding barn late last year after collating a prize money pool of $336,365.