Ridgeport Farm’s colours were all on their lonesome at Gawler on Saturday courtesy of brilliant 2yo filly Kuroyanagi in the Adelaide Bus & Coach Hcp (1100m).
Kuroyanagi (pictured) started a short-priced favourite on debut following a very impressive jump-out at Murray Bridge a fortnight before jockey Ben Price donned the Blue & Lime diagonal-striped silks for Ridgeport owner Santo Guagliardo.
“She had it won a long way from home,” Price said. “She’s been a pro since that jump-out and will improve in better company. She cruised up and won with ears pricked. The margin could have been six lengths and there’s a stack of improvement to come.”
Kuroyanagi (2f Written Tycoon – Tetsuko by I Am Invincible) wasn’t cheap as a yearling at the 2023 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. She was knocked down to Guagliardo and trainers Will Clarken & Niki O’Shea for $390,000 when offered by Yarraman Park at Oaklands Junction.
Her dam Tetsuko was a precocious Group 2-placed juvenile in the Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m) at Randwick and second-dam Magdalena (Snaadee) won the 1997 renewal of the LR Burgess Queen Stakes (1400m) at Ascot.
Guagliardo and his colours have been seen to advantage in Perth this season with the Neville Parnham-trained G1 Railway Stakes winner Bustler (Playing God) and G3 Prince Of Wales Stakes winner Snowdome (Rommel).
He has form in South Australia as well with the Clarken-prepared Out Of Aflica (Rommel) a brilliant 2yo winner in the Blue & Lime livery at Morphettville. She transferred to Robert Witten at Ascot last year and her former stablemate Desert Dancing (Rommel) is ready to resume following a five-length win in a Murray Bridge trial over 1000m last Monday.
Henry Dwyer also prepared Berry Foxie (Rommel) to a running double at Mt Gambier earlier this season.
“Santo is a great owner and Kuroyanagi did everything right for him today,” Clarken said. “I told Ben to ride her through the line. She hasn’t been off the bit yet and she streeted them.
“She still raw and I didn’t think she would be forward enough to race this prep. But her pedigree is speed on speed – Written Tycoon over a ‘Vinnie’ mare – and she’s made massive improvement in the last month or two.
“We will see how she pulls up before making any decisions. Either way, Santo won’t be fussed whether we keep her in work or send her for a spell.”
Rommel (Commands) stood his first season at Ridgeport Farm this season and he has six yearlings shaping up for next month’s Perth Magic Millions at Waroona. There’s another half-dozen being prepped for the Swan Valley Sale at his former home in Bullsbrook on account of Mogumber Park.
