Kazana was never on the track when racing for the first time at Northam on Thursday but that didn’t prevent the Awesome Rock filly putting her maiden rivals to the sword for Gold Front owner-breeders Alan and Sue Olive.
Evening In Paris (King Of Athens) led them up with odds-on favourite Admire Astra (Admire Mars) set to strike for Willie Pike once the cutaway came into view. Now Showing (Sessions) was also emerging through the pack to issue a challenge under Troy Turner.
Meanwhile, Madi Derrick had cuddled Kazana while never closer than three and four wide and she kept the well-built filly balanced as best as possible but couldn’t prevent her laying in over the final 200m.
“The journey begins and what a start for Kazana,” Gold Front posted on Facebook. “Incredible debut by the gorgeous filly. She showed true class at Northam when flying home to claim victory by a length. Thank you Madi Derrick for a stellar ride.”
Kazana is a daughter of Gold Front’s Group 1 winning stallion Awesome Rock and her dam Quality Spirit (Elusive Quality) was acquired by the Olives from Yashraj Breeding & Racing shortly after they launched Gold Front in 2011. She was a Belmont juvenile trial winner for Trevor Andrews but retired unraced.
Quality Spirit’s best performer to date has been Ration Aly (My Admiration) who was a six-time city winner at Belmont and Ascot for trainer David Harrison. Second-dam Governing Spirit (Deputy Governor) was a NZ-winning full-sister to Del Toro (LR Great Easter Stakes) and half-sister to Geiger Counter sprinter Splendid Horse (G3 Illawarra 2YO Classic).
Holding up the page is blue-hen Stage Hit (Century) who foaled Encores (G2 STC Phar Lap Stakes), Irradiate (G2 VRC Bloodhorse Breeders’ Plate), Sir Laurence (LR STC Eskimo Prince Hcp) and the dam of Pillaging (G1 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes).
Hoofnote: Gold Front graduate Just Saint James notched his second Ascot win this year when successful in the MCA Polytrack Hcp (1100m) on Saturday. Sired by Jimmy Choux (NZ) when he was based at Roselee Stud in Serpentine, Just Saint James is the first foal from Heytesbury Stud homebred Angelisa (Oratorio) and was a $20,000 buy for Rob Gulberti from the Gold Front draft (as agent) at the 2022 Perth Magic Millions. Angelisa is now owned by Boyanup breeder Bonni Adams and her latest foal is a yearling filly by Lightsaber.
