Trainer Joe Pride has revealed that the 2015 The Galaxy will be the major autumn target for talented colt Kuro.
Kuro will have the chance to record a maiden win at Group 1 level during the 2015 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival. Photo by: Steve Hart
Kuro made his way through the grades impressive during his 2014 Spring Racing Carnival campaign and he earnt an opportunity at the highest level of racing after he recorded a comfortable two lengths win in the Listed Brian Crowley Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on October 18.
The Denman colt received some betting support in the lead-up to the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) and he showed that he was capable of competing with the best three-year-olds in the country when he stormed home late to finish third behind Brazen Beau and Delectation.
Pride said that Kuro had taken plenty of benefit from his time in the spelling paddock and he confirmed that the three-year-old would return to racing in the Fireball Handicap (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on February 21 before taking on the older horses in the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 21.
“He is going to have a couple of trials heading into the Fireball and then go to The Galaxy,” Pride said.
“I couldn’t be happier with him and he looks in great order.
“He has made a bit of a transition from a spring three-year-old to now a much stronger autumn three-year-old and I think he will be able to take that next step.
“The Galaxy is his main aim in the autumn and physically he has really come on.”
Another Pride-trained sprinter that could end up in a race like The Galaxy is Target In Sight, who recorded his maiden win at black type level in the Listed Testa Rossa Stakes (1200m) during the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival.
Pride said that he was very happy with the way that Target In Sight performed in the autumn and he is hoping that the Nadeem gelding can take the next step during the 2015 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.
“He is back in the stable now,” Pride said.
“He is going to be set for a few of the sprints here in Sydney.
“He is obviously a level below the very best sprinters that I have got, but he is a pretty handy horse.
“He may make the transition into that top bracket this preparation.
“So far in his career he has shaped as maybe a Listed or a Group 3 horse, but I would be hopeful that there is still improvement in him.
“He raced really well last preparation and he is a particularly good horse at Randwick and I think that if we find the right race for him during the carnival he could be a big knockout chance in a nice race.”
Pride won The Galaxy with Tiger Tees in 2014 and he has the chance to become the first trainer in the last 30 years to win the race back-to-back.
