Kutchinsky breaks 32-month drought

After 32 months, 20 starts and seven jockeys, Kutchinsky re-found the winners enclosure in today’s Piping Lane Handicap at Flemington.

Kutchinsky’s losing spell stretched back to the Group 3 Grand Prix at Doomben in late May, 2010.

Ironically, he was ridden then by Craig Newitt, who partnered Kutchinsky in his break through win.

Newitt gave Kutchinsky, $6, every possible chance and the six-year-old responded by overhauling Elusive King, the $2.70 favourite, to win by three-quarters of a length with one and a quarter lengths to Hurdy Gurdy Man, $4.40, third.

Danny O’Brien, who took over the training from Tony Noonan last July, admitted that Kutchinsky had been a challenge.

O’Brien noted that Kutchinsky, which ran second in the Queensland Derby behind Dariana, had not run up to his ability.

“He has taken a little bit of getting used to. I think I’ve got him going to where he should be,” O’Brien said.

O’Brien said the target this campaign had been next month’s $350,000 Mornington Cup (2400 m), which gives the winner automatic entry into the Caulfield Cup.

He said the ownership of Kutchinsky had been dissolved and he could understand why “some of the owners fell out of love with him.”

“Tony (Noonan) did a great job with him. He won a Group 3 and was runner-up in the Queensland Derby,” O’Brien said.

“Sometimes you need a new environment, a new set of eyes and ears. He’s been down to Barwon Heads, he’s had a bit of jumping, a bit of swimming, a bit of everything.”

By Adrian Dunn, to view full Racing Network story click here

Photo by Bruno Cannatelli, to view Bruno's website click here