Another Derby Victory For NZB Ready to Run Sale

Karaka Ready to Run Sale graduate Kiko's Return (Minardi x Joe's Girl by Amalgam) recorded his sixth win in a row yesterday finishing almost six-lengths ahead of the other 15 runners to take out Malaysia's Listed Perak Derby (2400m).

Adding to the brilliance of the feat, it was the four-year-old gelding's first start in open company. The win gave top jockey Saimee Jumaat his first victory in the prestigious race while trainer Johnny Lim also trained the third placegetter Gold Arrow.

Breezing up over the 200m at the 2005 Sale in 11.13, Kiko's Return caught the eye of Wilming Yeo who purchased the two-year-old from the Java Lodge draft for $20,000. Kiko's Return joins the growing list of stakes winners across Asia from New Zealand Bloodstock's burgeoning Ready to Run Sale that includes the likes of Hong Kong Champions Mile winner Able One, two-time Listed Singapore TC Paititi Gold Trophy winner Lim's Grand and last year's Listed Singapore Derby winner Lim's Prestige.

Kiko's Return is from Joe's Girl, an unraced half-sister to Listed ARC Soliloquy Stakes winner Leigh Filou (Sky Filou), who has also produced the stakes-winning Rijeka (Sound Reason).

He has now had ten starts for six wins and two second placings for prizemoney of almost NZ$190,000.