This month our committee reviewed several top quality performances by horses owned by SAROA members – we eventually decided that the award for May should go to John Naffine for Kushadasi.
John gave as this background on Kushadasi
Kushadasi was purchased at the Melbourne Premier Inglis sale by Richard Jolly for $100,000. He then went to 4 of Richard’s long time owners, namely Neville Morgan , Roger & Cathy Ackland & myself.
Neville is the Senior partner & significant owner of horses in the Eastern States , but unfortunately was in South Africa on business on Derby Day & missed his 4th Group One Win.This was Roger & Cathy’s first, & my 3rd having previously won the Vic & SA derbies with Rebel Raider.
Kushadasi was Bred by Robert Hill Smith's Vintage Bloodstock . The Dam Shanghai Moon was purchased by Robert at the Inglis Easter sales for $125,000 , and was by the Arc de Triomphe winner Carnegie & out of Martine Michelle.
The staying blood comes from their parents whose respective sires were Sadlers Wells by Northern Dancer ,& Grosvenor By Sir Tristam.
Shanghai Moon is a half Sister to the Group 1 winner Pernod, but not as successful winning only 2 races at Morphetville to 1600 mtres. She was trained by tony McEvoy.However she is now a success at stud with 3 winners from her first 4 to race. Kushadasi was her 5th foal , and the 6th is by Reaan , which Richard Jolly purchased for the same owners as Kushadasi at the recent Adelaide sale for $70,000……prior to her Derby win or we would have had to pay a lot more.
Kushadasi has now won 5 of his 10 starts, and 3 seconds for over $500,000 in Prizemoney. In his last 3 starts he met Gamblin Guru each time with a 2nd to GG in the Port Adelaide Guineas ,a 4th to Gamblin Guru in the Chairmans Stakes & then a win in the Derby to Gamblin Guru's unlucky 4th.
It will be interesting to see how these two close competitors fare together in the Spring Racing. Despite Kushadasi's success over 2500 in the Derby we believe he will be better in the future up to 2000 meters.
We wish John and the other connections the best of luck in the Spring.