By Duane Ranger
Cyclone’s Kate’s racing career in New Zealand might be over but expect her progeny to run rampant in New Zealand for many years to come.
Co-owner/breeder and former international cricketer Kyle Mills said Cyclone Kate would most likely complete her racing career in Australia next season.
The 4-year-old Mach Three mare recorded her fastest mile time of 1:51.6 when beating favourite Frith in the Group Three $32,000 Frith Stakes at Tabcorp Park Menangle last Saturday night (June 18).
Mills said her New South wales trainer/driver John McCarthy was keep to race her for another season.
“She has been with John since December and has won six races over there. The conditions just suit her better and there seems to be more racing opportunities for her.
Cyclone was left parked early and then went to the lead down the back straight the first and only time. Frith was perfectly situated in the one-one but could not overcome the tough Kiwi in the straight.
She beat him by 2.8 metres and her sectionals for the mile were 27.5, 28.9, 27.5, and 27.7. It was her 13th win in 40 starts and took her career earnings to just under A$200,000.
“I think that was her best run yet. Mind you she went huge when finishing third in the Breeder’s Crown 2yo Final in 2014. It’s right up there with her brother’s (Cyclone Prince) Group One win in the Cardigan Bay Stakes 2yo Young Guns Final in 2013,” Mills said.
Cyclone Kate is a full sister to Cyclone Prince. They are the first two foals out of the three-win Presidential Ball mare, Eyre To The Throne.
“She’s been very good to us. Cyclone Charlie (by Rock N Roll Heaven) has also won a race for Nigel McGrath so she’s proving to be quite a valuable broodmare. Her daughter’s 1:51.6 mile on Saturday endorses that,” said Mills.
The 37-year-old, who retired from all forms of cricket on April 1 last year, said Eyre To The Throne was served by Mach Three last November.
“We are looking forward to that foal because he or she will be a full brother to ‘Kate and Prince’. She has also left a bettor’s delight yearling filly and an Art Major weanling filly,” he said.
Cyclone Kate is owned by her breeders – Mills, his brother and Chief Executive of the New Zealand Cricket Players Association – Heath; former All Black Ant Strachan; Mark Lyon, and Gareth Dixon.
Dixon trained her in New Zealand for 29 starts, where she won seven races, placed 11 times and netted $107,332.
“John said he would race her again on July 9 and then he would probably spell her until next season. It’s just a shame she missed a bit of her 3-year-old season when she got crook, but she is certainly making up for that now.
“She’s only a little thing and has done a great job for us. We are lucky having such a broodmare to breed from and it now looks as though “Kate’ might follow in her mother’s footsteps one day,” Auckland-based Mills said.
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