Kuro Kismet cleared for take-off ahead of Young Guns

By Isaac Murphy

Matthew Clark’s Kuro Kismet is ready to take flight after winning the lucrative Group 3 Launching Pad at Sandown Park last month.

The dog’s connections came away with $150,000 in stakes, and the knowledge the two-year-old was capable of just about anything.

At 27 months, the dog is still eligible for races like the Listed Brisbane Young Guns as he’ll look to continue to build his profile, jumping from box seven in his heat this Thursday night.

“Winning the Launching Pad with this dog was huge for the kennel, in the last few months we’ve moved on the likes of Playlist and Catch The Thief to make room for this dog and his kennel mate which was a very tough decision but to get a reward like that was pretty damn satisfying,” Clark said.

“This dog’s been a freakish talent all the way through, we had to not race him for a month in the lead-up to the Launching Pad to ensure we didn’t exceed the six-win limit, I’m glad we did wait because he went about it like an absolute professional.

“I’m hoping that’s what can set him apart in a race like the Brisbane Young Guns, he’s got an old head on his shoulders for a dog of his age, and add his ability to that you’ve got a pretty serious chaser.”

Maturity hasn’t always been Kuro Kismet’s strong point, forcing Clark to go back to basics with the dog, until a trip north brought with it a change in fortune.

“He was very hit and miss early in his career which was frustrating at the time because I knew how good he could be, but I just had to take my time with him,” he said.

“I got him going around the horseshoe at Geelong and just began to give him a proper education on how to race and ever since we went to the National Derby at Wentworth Park with him, he’s been a different dog.

“His two runs in Sydney were both huge, first look he bombed the start and almost produced a miracle win and then ran another bottler in his National Derby heat.

“I think he garnered a lot of respect in Sydney but probably flew under the radar a bit in Melbourne until the Launching Pad, now we want to see if he can conquer Queensland.”

It's been a mixed preparation for the Launching Pad champion who was on track after an Albion Park trial before a setback at home.

“I don’t like traveling dogs without a look at the track and similarly to Wentworth Park I sent him up to Albion for a trial about a month ago which I was really happy with, he was fresh off the plane the day before and handled himself really well,” Clark said.

“We brought him back for the heats of the Geelong Cup where he had a little hiccup with injury which we’ve been nursing for the last month, so if he’s ever vulnerable I think it’ll be tomorrow night because once he gets his legs under him, he’ll be fine.

“He looks a good thing on paper and I’m certainly not writing him off but win or lose tomorrow night it’ll be a good trial for him with hopefully a final next week and if not the Flying Amy to look forward to.”

Kuro Kismet has become known for his sustained speed over the sprint trip, something Clark thinks he’ll capitalise on at Albion Park.

“This is my first time coming to Albion Park to race a dog, but from what I see on the TV every week and what people have told me I think it’s going to be a track that really suits his racing style,” he said.

“He’s a dog that likes to use a bit of the track and if we can continue to draw off like we have this week (7), he’ll be able to go through the gears and be right in the finish.

“He doesn’t mind being trapped three or four wide at the first turn, you’ll see the best of him going past the 700-metre boxes down the back, his middle sectional is lightning wherever he’s gone.”

Clark is staying with a couple of familiar faces, kennelling with Bianca Whitford and 600-metre superstar Ninetymile King.

“I’m lucky to be coming up and staying with Bianca Whitford and her partner Chris, they come from a similar area to me down here on the Gippsland Coast and have kindly offered to take us in,” he said.

“First time to Brisbane it’s pretty important the dog feels at home and he’s nice and settled at their place.

“It’s been fantastic watching Ninetymile King do what he’s been doing lately, hopefully we both can have a good night tomorrow.”