Profile – Kibaar
Syndication has really grown in recent years, offering more people the opportunity to take the plunge into racehorse ownership and allowing more racing fans to become involved in the sport they love. The one thing for a syndicate is to find a flag bearer, a horse who is capable of flying the colours and catching people’s eye. Course and Distance racing only set up last year but they may have already found a horse with the potential to take them to the very best meetings throughout the year.
The “Horses In Training” sale in October at Newmarket offers hundreds of horses ranging in ability and age. The one thing you do get is a ready made runner, you know their form, they have the experience and now it is up to you to find one that can deliver the winners. After weeks of reading through the catalogue and hours spent viewing the individuals Kevin finally managed to secure one who he believed could improve with a change of scenery. Kibaar was knocked down at jut £22,000 to the delight of Course and Distance, who know could boast the opportunity of having a runner at the best tracks in the country. With a quick look through his form and history it is easy to see why connections are getting excited for the year ahead.
Promising 2 Year Old
Although owners do not make the difference in a horse’s ability there are certain ones who you sit up and take notice of. Hamdan Al Maktoum has been a stalwart of British racing and his royal blue silks are as famous as the great horses he has owned throughout the years. It’s not just his knowledge of the sport that you notice but the team around him and that is why you know his horses have to be taken seriously, especially when you see a 2 year old making their debut.
Kibaar made his debut as a first string for Hamdan Al Maktoum, with retained jockey Paul Hanagan choosing to ride the son of Pastoral Pursuits. That in itself shows that he must have been showing something at home. His first start was at Newbury, notorious for producing very good 2 year old maidens and this proved no different (Magical Memory finished alongside Kibaar and went on to finish third in the Group 1 Haydock Sprint). Kibaar ran well but his inexperience showed throughout, jumping awkwardly, then running a little keen before weakening in the final furlong. It was a run full of promise and it wouldn’t be long before Kibaar was seen in the winners enclosure.
In the parade ring before his debut
It wasn’t too long before Kibaar was seen again, aiming to break his duck at Ascot. It was again a race over the minimum distance and he was set to take on just 3 rivals. Despite the small field, Kibaar ended up having a rough race and was arguably unlucky. He again gave ground away at the start but showing natural speed he tagged on to the rear of the field. He ran green throughout but made headway 2f out to track the leaders and looking set to make a challenge. As he angled out to lay it down to the leaders, he received a bump and got pushed left, knocking him off stride. He straightened up, got balanced and rallied once more but couldn’t quite reel in the winner, only just going down by 1/2 length and confirming his promising debut run.
Finishing a close 2nd at Ascot
Winning his maiden was now looking extremely likely but connections would have to wait a little longer. His third start at Bath was over 5 1/2f but Kibaar raced far too keen and gave away any chance he had. Despite this mis-hap, he headed to Ffos Las as a 4-11 shot and duly shed his maiden tag. It wasn’t a hugely impressive win but it was job done, winning by 1/2 length and probably worthy of a little further. The one thing he had shown again was a tendency to race keenly, something that suggested there was a lot more to come from him once he learned to race properly and settle.
Following this maiden win, Kibaar was given a mark of 85 so it was down the nursery route for him now. York was his next destination, which would prove to be a real test as you never get an easy 2 year old race at the Knavesmire. Kibaar was trying 6f for the first time, which was going to be a real test if he didn’t settle better than he had been doing. There was no such problem this time, the pace was strong and he settled at the rear of the field. The cover he received seemed to switch him of and Kibaar travelled well, tracking his rivals. By halfway it was obvious that he was set to be a big danger and he easily moved through the back markers. As the 2f marker loomed up, Kibaar sliced through the field, still travelling strongly and was quickly on to the tails of the leaders. It was only as he entered the final furlong that the hand brake was taken off and Kibaar quickened well, storming to the lead. Any worries about the trip were quickly dispelled as he stayed on strongly to the line and take his second win in a row.
Winning at York, his second career win
Now he had proven himself over 6f connections decided to stick with the successful conditions, staying with the nursery route. Chester was next and it was another step up in grade. Kibaar ran very well again, settling early on before making a late charge. Unfortunately he wasn’t quite quick enough for the sharp track but he also bumped into a very talented horse in the shape of Mattmu (future Group 2 winner and Group 1 placed). Although he didn’t win, it was arguably his best run to date.
Next was another nursery and a return to Yorkshire for a very competitive race during the Ebor festival. Kibaar’s form had improved recently and he went into the race as one of the fancied runners. He was now a mature horse and was settling well in all his races. Tactics were changed slightly at York and Kibaar raced a lot closer to the pace, tracking the leaders. He travelled strongly throughout and layed down a big challenge, looking a very likely winner. Kibaar put it all on the line and pushed the winner all the way to the line, just coming up a little short (going down by a head) but again taking a big stride forward.
A narrow defeat but big jump forward
With a huge prize on offer, Kibaar took his chance in the Wetherbys Hamilton Insurance 2 year old stakes at Doncaster. He was well fancied but could never land a blow in a difficult race. The 6 1/2f was a new trip and despite travelling well in the rear, Kibaar just never got into the race.
With a line drawn through his last run there was one more race left in his 2 year old season and it was going to need a career best. On his ninth start, Kibaar was lining up in the Mill Reef Stakes, a Group 2 event at Newbury. It was a big ask but from the start Kibaar put it to the rest of the field. He tracked the leader throughout the early stages and never looked out of his depth. He was matching the leader stride for stride and 2f out he looked as likely to win as the leader did. The pair had put a bit of daylight between themselves and the rest, with Kibaar looking a big danger. As the 1f marker loomed the leader, Toocoolforschool, quickened and within a couple of strides had gone clear. The race was over now but Kibaar stuck to his guns. Second place looked like his for the taking now, but the very soft ground began to take it’s toll and he began to tire. Just by the line Kibaar got headed but finished a very creditable third, a career best performance on his final start.
3 Year Old Season
After a promising juvenile season, connections were probably quite excited to see how Kibaar developed. He looked like the type who could progress through the ranks and potentially be very smart. Unfortunately his 3 year old season was a bit of a disappointment but without knowing the horse then, it is hard to figure out why.
Starting off on a mark of 96 it looked a fair mark to be competitive in the top 3 year old handicaps. If he were to win one of those races then it may be that he would then step up in pattern company once again.
His first start of the season was in the 0-100 6f 3yo handicap at Newmarket, a race that has produced some very good winners. Kibaar never looked like landing a blow, he raced far too keenly. After pulling through the first half of the race he then weakened away, not surprisingly after exerting so much energy early on. It was his first run of the year so that run could be put down to freshness and although disappointing it didn’t mean Kibaar had become a bad horse overnight.
After this run he was only to have two more runs and both played out in the same fashion. He was slowly away on both starts, being held up in the rear of the field. This tactic had worked well before but now he was unable to ever land a blow and subsequently became disappointing. Unfortunately his season petered out with just three runs and his next stop would be the sales in October.
New Yard, New Start
When looking through the sales catalogue Kibaar quickly caught the eye of Kevin and the guys in Course and Distance. The form read well, promising 2 year old followed by a disappointing 3 year old season. The ability was there and surely he didn’t just become a bad horse. He made the shortlist.
Once at Newmarket Kevin went to see Kibaar as an individual. So many horses had already been knocked off the list so Kevin was now hoping Kibaar could buck that trend. As soon as he stepped out his box Kevin took an interest. He stood up a nice horse and looked how a sprinter should. Next he saw him trotting, he move like a ballet dancer, not something that is usual for a sprinter. Kevin had seen enough and he was definitely interested in securing the 3 year old.
After a few poor runs, Kibaar had dropped to a mark of 88. Despite this everyone felt that he was still going to make good money and a bid closer to 40-50k would be needed. Course and Distance were happy to go to battle but got a very pleasant surprise when the bidding got under way. There was very limited interest in the 3 year old and this led to the relatively cheap price of £22,000 securing the Pastoral Pursuits colt.
After being knocked down to Course and Distance racing
One of the first things Kevin did was to geld Kibaar, which looks to have helped him. Now he is a lot leaner and he has never been keen on the gallop. He has really developed well since arriving at Hambleton Lodge and now in full training, he has been impressing everyone. Kibaar has been working very well and certainly looks like he could improve to be a force in the sprint handicaps. He had only three runs as a 3 year old and just twelve all together in his career. There are very few miles on the clock and this could lead to plenty of improvement in the now four year old. From the look of his form Kibaar looks as though he is versatile with his trip, being fast enough for 5f but also sees out 6f too. His mark is very workable and his season will depend on his results.
Kibaar has shown a high level of form and if he can return to that then he will surely be seen at the big meetings. Everything depends on his performances but it is not out of the question to dream about him potentially developing into an Ayr Gold Cup contender. He is doing very well at home and looks as though he will be ready quite early in the season. There are a few options available but a start over 5f looks most likely. By doing this Kevin gets to see if he is suited by the trip but it also doesn’t punish the horse on his first run of the year. From what he has shown so far, Kibaar looks like he will soon be mixing it with the big boys and hopefully setting the standard for Course and Distance Racing.