The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr-trained Kurabui (NZ) (Proisir) has maintained her unbeaten record with a comfortable victory at Sandown.
The four-year-old daughter of Proisir took out the Ladbrokes Blended Multi Handicap (1600m) on Wednesday to stretch her winning sequence to four after commencing her racing career late last year.
Under a copybook ride by Jamie Kah, Kurabui was sent off the $1.60 favourite and defeated La Chevalee (Written Tycoon) ($4) by 1-¼ lengths.
“If you could ask for a certain ride on that horse, that was it,” Kent Jr said.
“It worked out perfectly. Barrier two and I was concerned she would get stuck on the fence at some point, but Jamie is so good at getting them in the right spot.
“To be fifth, one-off, on a genuine tempo, and I don’t think she pulled the stick, it was very nice to watch.
“While that looked easy, four-from-four is not easy to achieve.
“She’s very progressive. She can absorb pressure, she has a good turn of foot, she’s got a good temperament.
“She’s very bullet-proof at this stage.”
Kurabui is a half-sister to dual Melbourne Cup contestant Surprise Baby (NZ) and was initially purchased as a yearling out of Rich Hill Stud’s 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock May Sale draft for $1,000. She was later purchased out of the paddock as an untried filly by bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo.
Kent Jr said there was no immediate rush to get Kurabui to a higher grade.
“There’s a benchmark 78 mile race here at Sandown in two weeks’ time, but we’ll see what the boss wants to do,” Kent Jr said.
“I think we’ll keep her at a mile, there’s no need to go any further yet, but anyway, it’s a good problem to have.”
Kah said Kurabui was a jockey’s dream to ride.
“I didn’t have to use the whip. She does it all,” Kah said.
“And I really like the way she extended today with that weight.”
Proisir, who will stand at Rich Hill Stud for $12,500 +GST in 2021, had a winning double at Sandown with Nikau Spur (NZ) bringing up his third career win in the Switch Handicap (1500m) a race earlier.
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained four-year-old gelding was identified by Maher’s bloodstock manager Will Bourne after running a game third on debut at Awapuni for former trainer Rosie Buchanan.
