G1 Season Reflections - Kahma Lass

Owned by Cambridge Stud proprietors Brendan Lindsay MNZM & Jo Lindsay, Kahma Lass (3 f Darci Brahma - Distinctive Lass, by Orientate) won the Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) on 14 November at Riccarton.

In the month after their star mare and stable-mate Probabeel (Savabeel) won the iconic $1m Epsom Handicap (Gr. 1, 1600m) at Royal Randwick, Kahma Lass carried their colours to victory and became the fifth winner of the three-year-old fillies classic for Te Akau Racing.

Her quickening action had looked athletic when stretching out handsomely to win a Maiden over 1200 metres in October at Avondale, following a debut second at Taupo, and suggested she could be an ideal type to fulfil her nomination in the 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m).

The deal was sealed when closing powerfully in the fastest last 600m (33.9), beaten a nose, in the Soliloquy Stakes (Gr. 3, 1400m) on 24 October at Te Rapa, in a  performance that afforded her a solid top three chance in the New Zealand 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m). 

The $8.00 & $2.60 fixed odds looked generous a couple of days prior, and Opie Bosson, with more Group One winners than any other jockey in the history of New Zealand racing, was at his brilliant best.

In a copybook ride, Bosson negated an awkward barrier (11) and drove Kahma Lass into a trailing position four back on the rail. From 10^th at the 600m, he angled clear in centre track at the 300m and she unleashed a big finish to win convincingly.

“I was kidding to myself turning for home,” said Bosson, notching his 77^th Group One success. “I had a lapful of horse and just needed the splits. The splits all came at the right time and she had the turn of foot to get through them.”

In a race where stable-mate Cornflower Blue (Savabeel) also produced a top performance for third, Kahma Lass ran the 1600 metres in 1:36.7, last 600m in 34.3, and paid $7.30 & $2.60 on the NZ TAB tote.

“What a ride, my goodness gracious and it's pretty bloody exciting,” said Brendan Lindsay. “We thought we had a chance, but there were a lot of really good fillies in the race and we're pleased to be saluting the Judge, trust me.

“We've had a fantastic time down here this week and gosh they know how to put a good time on, these Christchurch people.”

“She's a good filly and we've got the right man on board,” said leading trainer Jamie Richards. “We get a big thrill out of winning races for Brendan and Jo, they've been fantastic. She's a filly David (Ellis) bought at Karaka, so all good and everyone's happy.”

A high-class filly with a beautiful walk, deep girth and powerful hindquarter, Kahma Lass was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $290,000 at the Karaka 2019 Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Curraghmore Stud. From the same draft in 2015, Ellis also bought her brother, Distinctive Darci. A smart four-length trial winner on debut at Te Aroha, Distinctive Darci transferred to Mark Walker in Singapore, winning 10 races, including a Group Two and over NZ$1 million in prize money. Half-brother Kuro (Denman) won five stakes races in a total of eight wins, and recent stakes winner Southern Lad (Ocean Park) has won six in Australia.

“She was an absolutely beautiful filly, very correct, a beautiful mover, with an enormous amount of quality about her,” Ellis said. “Rich in colour, she was probably the standout Darci Brahma filly of the sale for us.”

Her dam, stakes placed Distinctive Lass, is proving a broodmare sensation, having left four stakes winners and six of six winning progeny. 

Third dam, Special (Habituate), won 10 races including three Group Ones, all at Flemington: Newmarket Handicap (Gr. 1, 1200m), Lightning Stakes (Gr. 1, 1000m) and the Gadsden Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m). At stud, Special produced 14 foals, 10 raced and nine were winners.

A total of 13 stakes winners and eight stakes' placed performers descend from Sal II (Sallust), the dam of Special.

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In January this year, Richards completed the fastest training century in New Zealand, bettering the previous record by nearly three months. February saw the young trainer break the domestic stakes record of 25 in a season, and in April he broke the national record of wins (143) in a season.

He currently has 160 wins for 2020-21, including 15 Group Ones among 40 black-type victories (one with either group or listed status).

Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM, the leading buyer of yearlings for the 16^th consecutive year at Karaka, purchased all seven Group One winners that Jamie Richards trained this season, and 11 of the 16 individual stakes winners.

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