Talented Pierro gelding Kalino has been a good money spinner for his Star Thoroughbreds owners, but there might be a lot more to come if his long term Golden Eagle plan comes to fruition.
Trained by Chris Waller, Kalino has now won two of his last three starts and scored a powerful three-quarter length win in the Benchmark 78 event at Rosehill on Saturday over 1400m as favourite.
“He’s an exciting horse,” said Chris Waller.
“He’s taken a little while to find his way, but he’s on it now and there are some nice races coming up and who knows if he could get through to a Golden Eagle or not… That’s the beauty of Sydney racing, there are so many options.”
Winning rider James McDonald believes Kalino can move through the grades.
“He keeps progressing the right way and has a really good sectional on him, he’s probably better held up and can let rip a bit better, but I thought he was very good today,” said McDonald.
A $210,000 Inglis Classic purchase from the Tyreel Stud draft for Star Thoroughbreds / Randwick Bloodstock Agency (FBAA), Kalino has three wins from 10 starts and prizemoney just shy of $230,000.
He was bred by Bill and Chris Lovatt and is the second winner from two foals to race from I Am Invincible mare Lanikai.
A half-sister to stakes-placed Peace Not War, Lanikai comes from the family of Group I winners River Dove and Crown Prosecutor as well as Group II winner and promising young sire Headwater.
Lanikai produced a filly by Yes Yes Yes last spring and is back in foal to him again.
