Kisukano closes in on million-dollar club

By Glenn Davis

Talented Toowoomba mare Kisukano will be within striking range of joining the millionaire’s club this campaign if the four-year-old can win at Eagle Farm on Tuesday.

Kisukano will be ridden by multiple Group 1-winning jockey Larry Cassidy when she makes her comeback in the Open Handicap over 1200 metres ahead of the upcoming Queensland Summer Racing Carnival.

Kisukano has started 17 times for seven wins and five placings and has already earned a staggering $836,600 for her owners.

She hasn’t raced since finishing a close fifth to the Tony Gollan-trained Setanta in the Listed Queensland Day over 1200 metres at Eagle Farm in June.

Trainer Michael Nolan is confident the four-year-old is ready to produce a big effort on Melbourne Cup Day after winning a 650-metre barrier trial at Toowoomba on October 5

“She’s had a private jump out and a trial and won both,” Nolan said.

“She should race well as she likes Eagle Farm.

“It’s a quality race but not strong on numbers.”

Nolan marvels at the prospect of Kisukano potentially smashing the $1 million barrier in prizemoney.

“She’s a terrific chance of breaking the $1 million barrier and she’s never left Queensland,” Nolan said.

“It’s a good advertisement for the QTIS scheme and Queensland racing.”

Kisukano was bred by Nolan’s long-time owners, the Reeves family, who race her in a syndicate mainly made up of Nolan’s school friends from his days at Marist Ashgrove in Brisbane.

“It’s Melbourne Cup Day so no doubt most of them will be there, hopefully to celebrate,” Nolan said.

Nolan hasn’t ruled out Kisukano starting in the Group 3 George Moore Stakes over 1200 metres at Doomben on December 4 but favours taking the fillies and mares’ path during the summer.

“She’ll have to win very impressively to warrant going to the George Moore and at this stage she’ll probably go the fillies and mares’ path” he said.

Kisukano is likely to run next in the Listed Travel Associates Classic over 1200 metres at the Gold Coast on November 27 before the Listed Just Now Quality (1300m) at Eagle Farm two weeks later.

“She’s only having three runs this campaign before she spells to get ready for next year’s winter carnival,” Nolan said.