Kovalica has taken out the Group 2 Queensland Guineas at Eagle Farm, giving Chris Waller the current number one seed in the Group 1 Queensland Derby in four weeks' time.
Nash Rawiller finished Queensland Guineas Day with a race-to-race double after winning the Victory Stakes on Rothfire the race before, while recording both wins with a great strong ride in the final 200m of each race.
This three-year-old gelding returned last start at Randwick with an eye-catching run over 1400m in the Listed South Pacific Stakes, and he looked to be the one to beat in the Guineas, jumping as the $2.40 favourite with online bookmakers.
Rawiller didn't worry when Kovalica jumped well and looked to be posted wide within the first 300m, as he just settled three-wide with cover up until the home turn, where he was swinging off the son of Ocean Park before shaking him up and exploding with a blistering turn of foot to pick up the leader in the final 50 metres.
2023 Queensland Guineas Replay – Kovalica
With Chris Waller in Sydney, Brett Kilton represented the stable and spoke post-race about the win of Kovalica in the Queensland Guineas.
“Good horses seem to overcome difficulties don't they? He's a horse on the way up,” Kilton said.
“The Grand Final (QLD Derby) is in four weeks, we are aware of that.
“I think what gave us confidence was the track record here, knocking Gypsy Goddess' record off in the Grand Prix.
“You've got to be well above average to do stuff like that.”
Rawiller capped of his day with back-to-back Group 2 victories, and he may have just booked himself a Queensland Derby ride on the current favourite.
“To be fair I almost got into one-off the fence, I didn't want to get time either,” Rawiller said.
“Once I realised I couldn't get in I looked up and had a look around and thought ‘I'm in the perfect spot here', I wouldn't swap spots.
“He just got into a beautiful rhythm, he travelled really well and the way the track has been racing it was going to help him home.
“I was confident that my bloke had him, just had his measure, and that's how it panned out.”
Kovalica is now the $2.40 favourite with online betting sites for the Queensland Derby on May 27.