Managing owner Darren White hopes his amazing journey with star mare Kissonallforcheeks can continue in the autumn after she became the third horse to secure a starting berth in The Quokka.
Darren White confirmed he negotiated a deal with the mare’s trainer Dan Morton to take up his slot in the $4 million race at Ascot on April 15, the inaugural running of WA’s richest race ever.
“We are very happy and it obviously wasn’t a hard thing to do,” White said on Tabradio.
“We had a couple of low key offers and they were interesting, but we were always going to go with Morton racing if they were interested in the horse.
“It’s a good fit for all and we are very excited by it all.
“She’s giving us a lot of enjoyment and that’s what racing is all about.”
Bought for $120,000 at the Gold Coast Magic Millions, Kissonallforcheeks has banked close to $2 million for White and his fellow part owner, Jill O’Sullivan.
The five-year-old’s signature wins in Perth include the Lee Steere Classic (1400m), WA Breeders’ Classic (1400m) and the R.J.Peters Stakes (1500m).
In Melbourne her feature winning haul continued in the Shaftesbury Avenue Handicap (1400m) and the Let’s Elope (1400m) for trainer Nick Ryan at Flemington.
The daughter of Written Tycoon is aiming to land a killer blow in her home state after placings in the 2021 G1 Railway Stakes (1600m) and Northerly Stakes (1800m).
In last year’s Ascot Pinnacles carnival, she ran consecutive seconds in the G1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) and Gold Rush (1400m).
Morton said the plan was to start Kissonallforcheeks in the Roma Cup (1100m) at Ascot, two weeks before The Quokka.
Kissonallforcheeks, Amelia’s Jewel and Bella Nipotina are confirmed slot holders for The Quokka.
Amelia’s Jewel is the $4 favourite for The Quokka with Tabtouch.
Bella Nipotina is next at $5 and Kissonallforcheeks is on the third line of betting ($7.50).