Kisukano eyeing off an upset

By Glenn Davis

On paper, Tony Gollan looks to hold the ace card in the Listed Nudgee Stakes at Doomben on Saturday but rival Michael Nolan is refusing to fly the white flag with his stable star Kisukano.

The Gollan-trained Isotope has been well backed in early markets and is a $2.60 favourite despite the trainer’s warning that the weather will decide if the four-year-old makes her comeback in the 1200-metre feature.

Isotope is one of four Gollan acceptors in the Nudgee Stakes along with topweight Krone, Miami Fleiss and second emergency, Salateen.

Nolan has been the one of Toowoomba’s leading trainers for more than two decades and is hoping Isotope will be vulnerable in her first start since a serious colic attack in June.

A daughter of Bel Esprit, Kisukano was placed second-up in the Listed Tattersall’s Classic over 1200 metres at Doomben on December 4 before a late finishing sixth behind East Asia in the Listed Just Now at Eagle Farm when she backed up a week later.

“If Isotope is at her top, she’ll win but Kisukano will get her chance if she’s at all vulnerable first-up,” Nolan said.

“It’s a red-hot field and her last run was very good after she was slow away and got back with 59kgs.

“We’ve been riding her off the pace in her last few runs but she’s still good enough to lead if she has to.

“I can’t believe she’s around a $40 chance.”

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.

Meanwhile, Gollan is keeping a close watch on the weather with Isotope with Doomben currently in the soft range.

“The expectations were high if we had good ground but I don’t know what to expect if it’s wet,” Gollan said.

“There’s obviously a fair bit of improvement in her but I’m not afraid to go fresh into Magic Millions day if we have to.

“A Soft 7 won’t bother me and if it’s a soft I’m expecting a good run but I’m not sure if its worse.”

Gollan said Krone is yet to win first-up in six attempts and generally needs a first-up run to find her best form.

Krone has not started since a close seventh in the Group 2 Emancipation Stakes at Rosehill in April after winning the Group 2 Guy Walter and Group 1 Coolmore Stakes at Rosehill.

She has barrier trialled twice in preparation for her return.