High Kin (NZ) Wins Taumarunui Gold Cup
High Kin (NZ) Wins Taumarunui Gold Cup
The talented mare High Kin (NZ) raced her way to the biggest victory of her short career at Te Rapa on Saturday when winning the $80,000 Listed Hibiscus Painters Taumarunui Gold Cup (2100m).
Coming into the Gold Cup from off the bench, High Kin (High Chaparral x Kinzan) was the first emergency for the race and gained late entry into the feature on Saturday morning after the top weight Indikator was scratched due to a stone bruise.
High Kin is racing in top form, coming into the race off three consecutive race victories, and her class shone through in the Listed event as she put paid to a good field of 16 runners.
Settling just off the pace on the rail, jockey Cameron Lammas took the four-year-old into the clear coming into the straight and the daughter of High Chaparral burst to the front 200 metres from home, holding off late challenges from The Jungle Boy (Jungle Pocket) and Marea Alta (Montjeu) to win by one-and-three-quarter lengths.
High Kin's victory was the biggest race win for her trainer David Greene who had the Taumarunui Gold Cup in mind for the mare since her win in Tauranga last month.
Bred by Michael Kunac and C & J Stone, High Kin is the 37th stakes winner for her sire High Chaparral whose progeny earnings top $42 million worldwide.
High Kin was purchased by Stephen Marsh from Timberlee Thoroughbreds at New Zealand Bloodstock's 2009 Karaka Festival Sale for $11,000. Raced by her co-breeder Michael Kunac with Ian Innes, High Kin's four wins from nine career starts have earned over $85,000.
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