Kitsilano Photo by Graham Fischer
Talented two-year-old squaregaiter Kitsilano proved she is currently the best in South Australia with a dominant 65-metre win in the 2018 Maryborough Harness Racing Club Parker Classic (1800m) at Globe Derby Park.
Trainer-driver Greg Rogers has been involved in harness racing for a lifetime but is genuinely excited about the potential of the filly which has won four of her five starts.
On Saturday, Kitsilano trotted away safely off the front and took the early lead and was never really challenged with a number of her rivals making errors.
A red-hot $1.40 favourite, the filly trotted beautifully to dominate the SA classic with Rogers allowing himself an emotional fist pump close to home as she beat Purple Lantana ($5.90) with Mumstheword ($4.60), three metres away third.
“She is easily the best young trotter I have trained,” Rogers said.
“I didn’t really push her out and she rated 2:07.6 cruising home in a 61 second last half.
“I will give her a week off now but I guess we have to start looking about a trip to Victoria.”
Fellow trainer David Smith, himself a master trainer of trotters, told Rogers he had to test the filly in Victoria.
“You don’t want not to go and later think, how would she have gone?” Smith said.
“She is going great and has earned a trip. Only time will tell how she will go but you have to give her the chance.”
Rogers said he would be looking to qualify Kitsilano from a mobile start in the next few weeks.
Goals could be the Redwood carnival at Maryborough in Victoria in early August and also the Victorian Sires Stakes series.
Kitsilano was bred, and is owned by Peter and Lamour Holder, who had their family along at Globe Derby Park to help celebrate the win.
Their celebration dinner was a trip to nearby Krispy Kremes.
