Bel Esprit's Kisukano Heads to Sydney With Half a Million in the Bank

Mark Smith - Saturday July 11

What a ripping filly Kisukano is. The two-year-old daughter of Bel Esprit confirmed her rating at the best of her sex in the Sunshine State with another flawless performance in Saturday’s Bruce McLachlan Classic QTIS Two-Year-Old Handicap at the Sunshine Coast.

All Too Easy for Bel Esprit's Kisukano (Racing Queensland)

Burdened with 60.5kg on a track rated as a heavy 9, Kisukano was settled just off the pace by Mark Du Plessis and when angled out to make her challenge down the centre of the track she put the race to bed in a matter of strides.

She came away to defeat the Not A Single Doubt filly Fleet Dove by two and three-quarter lengths with the Spirit Of Boom filly Country Showgirl a length back in third.

The only horse to ever beat Group 1 J.J. Atkins winner Rothfire, Kisukano advances her record to 4 wins and a second from 5 starts with earnings of $502,100.

Trainer Michael Nolan said he will prepare the daughter of Bel Esprit for a campaign in Sydney.

 "She won a jump-out this week in really good fashion. But she had a lot against her today and I was worried about her weight," Nolan told AAP.

"The track was wet, but she has run good time and put them away quickly.

Advertisement

"I will ease off on her now and head to Sydney in four weeks. One thing about Sydney in August-September there are plenty of races for fillies."

Bel Esprit he can get a good filly

A homebred for the Reeves  family, Kisukano is the first foal of the Show a Hweart mare  Kiss For Gran who is a sister to the dam of recent Listed SAJC CS Hayes Memorial Cup winner Over Exposure and a three-quarter sister to the stakes-placed Show a Prince and a half-sister to Listed GCTC Silk Stocking Hcp winner Princess Margaret.

Nolen went back to this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale to purchase Kisukano’s half-sister by Better Than Ready for $115,000.

Kiss For Gran had a rest in 2019 after foaling a colt by Rothesay.

Sun Stud stalwart Bel Esprit will stand at the value fee of $7,700 in 2020.

Advertisment

Race Result - Butler McDermott Lawyers Hcp 1000m

Sunshine Coast Track: Heavy(9) Time: 0:59.02
1
Kisukano
- 2f Bel Esprit (AUS) x Kiss For Gran (AUS) (Show A Heart (AUS))
Tnr: M G Nolan Rdr: M R Du Plessis 60.5
2
2.8
Fleet Dove
- 2f Not A Single Doubt (AUS) x Fleet Riane (AUS) (Barely A Moment (AUS))
Tnr: K M Schweida Rdr: Baylee Nothdurft 55
3
3.8
Country Showgirl
- 2f Spirit Of Boom (AUS) x Paralegal (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: K R Kemp Rdr: Corey Bayliss 53
4
4.0
Mishani Miss
- 2f Denman (AUS) x Caressable One (AUS) (Jet Spur (AUS))
Tnr: L G Ross Rdr: R Fradd 55.5
5
4.2
Mishani Fraudster
- 2g Jet Spur (AUS) x Mishani Sinner (AUS) (Falvelon (AUS))
Tnr: L G Ross Rdr: J Byrne 57
6
6.7
Bad Barista
- 2f Spill The Beans (AUS) x Sparkling Sound (AUS) (Oratorio (IRE))
Tnr: R G Lipp Rdr: Ms S Thornton 55.5
7
6.9
Aspen Lad
- 2g Bagger Vance (AUS) x Sonador Rose (AUS) (Captain Sonador (AUS))
Tnr: Darryl Johnston Rdr: B Pengelly 57.5
8
7.0
Magic Delta
- 2f Better Than Ready (AUS) x Cheap And Nasty (AUS) (Bianconi (USA))
Tnr: Natalie McCall Rdr: M Cahill 55
9
8.0
Yourjokingme Right
- 2c Foxwedge (AUS) x Tenita Mimani (AUS) (Tayasu Tsuyoshi (JPN))
Tnr: Alan L Jones Rdr: Adin Thompson 53.5
10
62.0
Dark Son
- 2g Better Than Ready (AUS) x Laura Magne (AUS) (King Charlemagne (USA))
Tnr: Tony & Maddysen Sears Rdr: Jackson Murphy 55.5
More Reading...
Fast Track 2026/27 Launches Nationally: Applications Now Open
Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA) has officially launched applications for the 2026/27 Fast Track program — a nationally recognised traineeship designed to build the next generation of thoroughbred breeding professionals.
Breeding to Win - 2026 G1 Surround Stakes
The $750,000 Group I ATC Surround Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday brings together the best three year old fillies in Australia, so who are the top chances? 
Anamoe Breeding Right Sold for $450,000
The Inglis Digital February (late) Sale that concluded on Wednesday has a new top lot with Inglis announcing a breeding right to Anamoe has now been sold.
First Winner for Tiger of Malay
Newgate Farm is home to champion sire Extreme Choice and also his promising young sire son Tiger of Malay, who broke the ice with his first winner at Canterbury on Friday night.
A Bit of a Headache but Kisukano is Very Very Good
Kisukano must have been close to wearing out her welcome with the starter before the running of Saturday’s Tab Long May We Play Hcp (1200m) at Eagle Farm, however consenting to take her place in the barriers proved the only worry for her supporters.
Course Record Setting Win May have Earned Kisukano a Break
We have devoted more column inches, with the possible exception of the stewards, to the hugely talented 3yo Bel Esprit filly Kisukano who, despite a course record-breaking win over 1200 metres at Eagle Farm on Saturday, will likely have her stakes ambitions put on hold for the time being.
People at Premier - Off The Bit Thursday
Thursday inspections at Inglis Melbourne Premier have ramped up with vendors reporting “run off our feet” and Maree McEwan has been around talking with the major players, including one farm that’s first-up from a 10 year spell.
Kingsclere seeking another Derby with Ocean Park Filly
Kingsclere Stables have an exciting week ahead of them, with promising mare She’s A Dealer shooting for black-type at Trentham on Sunday, while six days later the Cambridge barn will hold a strong hand in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m).
Timing is Everything - Newhaven Park Present Streisand Half-Brother
When entries were taken for the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale last year a colt by Star Witness from Zouper Star was hardly seen as a standout offering, but events of the last six months will have this youngster as one of the must inspect horses of the sale.
Sires With Winners - Thursday February 26
Here is the full list of 29 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.