Kisukano close to joining millionaires club

By Glenn Davis

Darling Downs trainer Michael Nolan marvels at the prospect that his talented mare Kisukano could soon join the millionaires club.

Kisukano has won $909,750 during her career and will pick up another $42,700 in prize money if she can win for the eighth time in just 23 starts in the Open Handicap over 1200 metres at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

The daughter of Bel Esprit 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 will be a terrific feat if she can win $1 million in prize money as she’s never left Queensland,” Nolan said.

“It will be a good advertisement for Queensland racing and the QTIS scheme here.”

The four-year-old hasn’t won since May last year after finishing third in the Group 3 Gold Coast Guineas behind the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Marboosha.

“She hasn’t won for nearly a year but she’s only had six runs in that time,” Nolan said.

“The only reason she hasn’t raced that much is she’s up in the weights now and it’s been hard to place her.”

Kisukano is coming off a last start third behind Michael Costa’s She Can Sing in the Military Rose Plate over 1100 metres at the Gold Coast on March 19.

“Her last run was very good as she was first-up and only just failed by a small margin and the time was quick,” Nolan said.

“It hasn’t been that easy to get to $1 million and it would be nice if she gets closer by winning on Saturday.

“We went to the Gold Coast last start thinking it was the right race for her as it was $72,000 to the winner.

“I’m pretty sure she’ll get to the $1 million mark at some stage soon.”

Nolan believes her time will come to smash the money barrier during the upcoming TAB Queensland Racing Carnival, if not before.

“We’re aiming her for some of the set weights fillies and mare’s races over 1200 metres,” he said.

“We’re confident she’s up to those second-tier races and she loves wet tracks if the rain is still around then.

“She’s in great shape and should go close on Saturday and she loves Eagle Farm.”