Country Championships Dream: Trainer & Gelding Chase Final

Kranich Primed for Country Championships Assault Despite Rocky Road

The path to the prestigious $150,000 Evergreen Turf WRA Country Championships hasn’t been entirely smooth sailing for Kranich, but trainer Michael Mulholland is brimming with confidence as his charge lines up for the Dubbo leg of the competition today. The five-year-old gelding has shown a consistent upward trajectory in his three starts this preparation, each run proving better than the last, a crucial build-up as Mulholland aims for his first runner in the $1 million final.

Mulholland, who previously tasted success in the Central Districts Championships in 2021 with Old Harbour while based in Wellington, knows the sting of a promising horse being sidelined by injury before reaching the ultimate prize. “He’s had a nice build-up,” Mulholland explained, “though he’s had niggling issues. You try to plan to go through and get everything perfect, but nothing’s ever perfect.”

Despite the minor setbacks, Kranich has been far from disappointing. “He hasn’t run poorly,” Mulholland continued. “He’s been in 82 Benchmark races, running a nice fourth first-up, then a nice third, and a nice second. So, he’s built up to win.” The trainer is particularly optimistic about Kranich’s ability to handle the 1400-metre distance. “He’ll run the 1400m out strongly. He’ll sit back and hit the line strongly – that’s his best asset. A lot of the horses are only 1200-metre horses, and not many of them have been really tested over 1400 metres.”

Dubbo’s Advantage: A Home Track Boost

The decision to move the WRA Country Championships from Coonamble to Dubbo, a venue that has hosted the regional finals since 2020, has been a late but welcome development. For Mulholland, whose stable is based in Dubbo, this change is a significant positive, potentially offering Kranich a better chance to overcome his draw.

“It won’t be as hard,” Mulholland noted, comparing the Dubbo track favourably to Coonamble. “Coonamble would have been like concrete, and he doesn’t like hard ground.” He further elaborated on the benefits of the Dubbo track’s layout. “It’s not a big turning track at Dubbo, and most times horses down the centre of the track hit the line strongly. Half of his wins have come from wide gates anyway.”

However, Mulholland stressed the importance of Kranich’s race tactics. “He’ll need to relax and hopefully, he can get in about seventh and eighth and get a seat somewhere, and just be patient.”

Overcoming the “Voodoo Distance”

While Kranich was unable to reel in Crusader Kings in the 1200-metre Preview held just over a week ago, Mulholland dismisses that run as a “voodoo distance” for his charge. He firmly believes Kranich will be far more effective over the 1400-metre journey of the Championship race.

Adding depth to Mulholland’s challenge, Jasper’s Way will represent his second stringer in the Championships race. Despite the lightly raced four-year-old having a less extensive race record, Mulholland is happy to take a chance. “He’s a second stringer for Mulholland in the Championships race, but he’s happy to have a throw at the stumps with the lightly raced four-year-old.” This dual representation highlights Mulholland’s strategic approach and belief in his stable’s capabilities.

The Evergreen Turf WRA Country Championships at Dubbo promises an exciting spectacle, with Kranich, despite a few bumps in the road, appearing to be in prime condition to contend for a significant prize. The trainer’s faith in his horse’s stamina and the advantages of the local track provide a compelling narrative as the field prepares to battle it out.