The win by the Craig Ferguson trained Kusama (Art Major) at the Wyndham HRC meeting at Winton yesterday produced the next generation of pacers from a breed the late Ronnie Macdonald established in the early 1980s.

“I always thought she’d win one pretty quickly but I thought Brent’s one (Anita Mary) would be a bit too good. But she was a wee bit unlucky,” driver Mark Hurrell said.

In yesterday’s race Hurrell had Kusama back on the inside running line before he managed to get her off. He hooked her out at the 350 metres mark and she powered around the last bend and let down nicely to beat favourite Anita Mary by a neck.

KUSAMA REPLAY

“I got left at the back of the field and behind a couple that weren’t favoured, so I thought I’d get up on the fence and follow the favourite. We then managed to get off and we got going before Anita Mary could get out. I thought I couldn’t afford to give it a head start. Getting out was probably the winning of the race.”

Anita Mary had problems getting clear and powered home late.

“That one got beside me 50 off the line and for her (Kusama) to knuckle down like that and to fight one off on debut was a pretty good effort.”

The winning time was a smart 1-53.5.

“I was off the bit and she was a bit lazy. But to hear the time was quite astonishing – to go 53 (1-53) on debut.”

The way the three year old filly handled the false start also impressed Hurrell.

“Some of the Art Majors can get a bit racy and you’d think first time at the races that she might get herself wound up. But she was walking around like the quietest one out there.”

Prior to yesterday’s debut Kusama had been to five workouts and a qualifying trial.

“She’s always had a bit of a motor but has just taken a bit of time to get to the races. From the last time she was in to this time there’s been a bit of a difference. She’s strengthened up a bit and is probably going to strengthen up a bit more. This time next year she’ll be a nicer horse.”

Kusama is owned by Paul Duffy QSM and his son Brendan.

Paul milked cows for Macdonald when he was at Seawood Downs and Macdonald gave the Duffys Chipalong (Apollo’s Way – Chipaluck)  to breed from.

Her first foal was Washington VC mare Biddy Mulligan which qualified, but was unraced.

She left Melina Lowe the dam of Kusama. Melina Lowe won seven races and held a New Zealand record for mares of 2-53.6 over 2400 metres mobile when she won at Winton in September 2018.

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink