Kukeracha Dances to QLD Derby Glory

The Chris Waller-trained Kukeracha (Night of Thunder-Portrait of a Lady, by A.P. Indy) prevailed in a driving finish to the Gr1 Queensland Derby (2400m) to down stablemate Senor Toba (Toronado) with triple Derby hero Explosive Jack (Jakkalberry) finishing a game third, narrowly in front of fellow Waller-trained Achiever (Pride of Dubai). Bred in New Zealand by Dr Chris Phillips, who is the resident vet at Waikato Stud, Kukeracha came from midfield under a well-timed James McDonald ride to land the spoils in the colours of proud Queenslander Neville Morgan. The 3YO son of Night Of Thunder (Dubawi) has now won three of his 13 starts, with a further five placing,s and entered the Derby off the back of a promising third in the Gr2 Queensland Guineas (1600m) and a runner-up finish in the Gr3 Rough Habit Plate (2000m). His victory provided Group 1 winner #126 win for his emotional trainer. “The team up here have done a great job,” acknowledged Waller who told NZ Racing Desk, “We had a great opinion of Kukeracha as a 2YO and then he sort of lost his way a little bit. Typical story, he was gelded and just taken through the system.” For Hall of Fame jockey James McDonald, it was a fifty-fourth career Group 1 success. Kukeracha was purchased by Mulcaster Bloodstock for $130,000 out of the Waikato Stud draft at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale. Phillips purchased Portrait of a Lady for $40,000 when carrying Kukeracha and has subsequently bred a filly and a colt by Sacred Falls, in addition to a filly foal by Ocean Park.

Kukeracha (blue) won the Queensland Derby (pic: Race Images Grant Peters)