Kinnaird the King on Debut

In front where it counts, Kinnaird (2 c Home Affairs – Orinda, by O’Reilly) recorded a debut victory in the $40,000 2YO 1100 metres on 30 November at Otaki.

Having run home well for third when trialling on trial on 14 November at Avondale, in the second of his two educational outings, Kinnaird travelled outside the leader after beginning well from barrier three, challenged to lead mid-straight, and kept giving strongly to hold late challenger Ka Ron (Hello Youmzain) at bay by a nose. 

Ridden by Champion Jockey Craig Grylls in the race named Levin Jump Outs Two-Year-Old, Kinnaird ran 1100 metres in 1:05.8, last 600m in 34.3 (approx.), and shortened in betting from $4.20 opening fixed odds quote to pay $2.40 & $1.40 on the NZ TAB tote. 

Destined to get over more distance, it was an ideal starting point for Kinnaird and as a colt, he should take benefit from the overnight trip away. 

“It was a really good performance to stick his head out and win in a close finish and he showed plenty of grit and determination,” said Mark Walker, training partner with Sam Bergerson.

“He was left in front a little bit soon in the straight, and was a touch green at his first start, but he knuckled down strongly when the other horse arrived up alongside him.

“Home Affairs has had a very successful start to his stallion career, and the great thing about Kinnaird is that he has a fantastic temperament and the team at the Colt Barn has done a really good job with him.

“He’ll take a lot of improvement from the race and the trip away, and I think that after a short freshen-up he’ll keep furnishing into an even better young horse. There is plenty of upside with him. 

“The family has invariably left horses that win over much more distance and as older horses, but he has shown precocity and natural talent to be able to race and win as a two-year-old, and there is a lot more scope to come. 

“He’s eligible for the Karaka Millions 2YO in January at Ellerslie, he's certainly an exciting prospect, and that will be our aim.”

From the second crop of Australian Champion Three-Year-Old Home Affairs (I Am Invincible), Kinnaird is a half-brother to Group 1 Australian Derby winner and sire Jon Snow (Iffraaj), who stands at Clearview Stud in the South Island.

Owned by the Te Akau Home and Abroad Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Kinnaird was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $340,000 in January at the 2025 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Highview Stud.

Standing at Coolmore Stud, Home Affairs won the Group 2 Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m) as a two-year-old at Rosehill, and became Champion 3YO Colt in Australia, after winning the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) and Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (1000m), both at Flemington.  

Adding to his stallion credentials, the dam of Home Affairs, Miss Interiors (Flying Spur), is a half-sister to Group 1 winner and the Leading First Crop Sire for 2021/22 in Australia, Russian Revolution (Snitzel), as well as Group 3 winner Turbo Miss (Sebring). 

His dam Orinda, by NZ Champion Broodmare Sire O’Reilly (Last Tycoon), was a dual winner over 1400 metres, and notably is also the dam of sire Jon Snow (Iffraaj), winner of the Group 1 Australian Derby as mentioned above, and also the Group 2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m), among his four career wins from 1200m – 2400m.

She also produced Princess Rhaenys (Iffraaj), a six-time winner from 1600m – 2100m, whose record included a stakes' win and she was also a Group 3 runner-up.

Kinnaird is from one of the best families in the New Zealand stud book, known by some as the Moore family, with third dam Solveig (Imposing) who won 14 races being out Soliloquy (Sobig), a foundation mare for Richard Moore. 

Among the history of top sales' graduates from 100 years of yearling sales in New Zealand, the name Soliloquy and her subsequent lineage continue to show up. It really is a fabulously talented family with oodles of class and quality.

Through five generations the family has left 12 individual Group 1 winners. 

At the time of purchasing Kinnaird, Ellis said: “He’s a fast looking two-year-old type and we love that Home Affairs is really stamping his yearlings as quality types. 

“Anytime we see something in the catalogue from the Soliloquy family that takes our eye it’s exciting, and we were thrilled to be able to buy him.

“We had him down as one of the best colts in the sale, on type and pedigree, so we’re very happy to get him for $340k.”

Kinnaird carries a bloodline cross to Champion Sire Nureyev (Northern Dancer), a racehorse with immense turn of foot, Champion French 3YO, and sire of more than 20 champions, while Home Affairs is bred on the Danehill sire line. 

Kinnaird was strapped by Tom Murphy.

Photo credit - Kenton Wright - www.raceimages.co.nz