Australia: Ole Kirk faces tough cast in Expressway Stakes

Ole Kirk was so highly regarded for his debut that he was entered in a stakes in Australia for Southern Hemisphere 2-year-olds last February and won. Through 2020, Ole Kirk added to his reputation with consecutive wins in Group 1 races for Southern Hemisphere 3-year-olds in September and October.

Age-restricted races end for Ole Kirk when he starts in Saturday’s Group 2 Expressway Stakes against older horses at six furlongs at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Australia.

Ole Kirk must beat such established sprinters as Standout, who won the 2020 Expressway; Savatiano, a 6-year-old mare who won three Group 2 races for sprinters in 2020; and Kolding and Star of the Seas, who were first and second in the Group 1 George Main Stakes at a mile in September.

Ole Kirk starts for the first time in 2021 in the Expressway after two outstanding races in the Australian spring in Group 1 races, victories in the $719,072 Golden Rose Stakes at seven furlongs by a head on Sept. 26 and in the $1.45 million Caulfield Guineas at a mile by about a half-length on Oct. 10.

The $153,800 Expressway Stakes will be Ole Kirk’s first start at six furlongs since a second by 1 1/2 lengths at 30-1 to Rothfire in the Group 2 Run to the Rose Stakes at Rosehill Gardens on Sept. 12. Rothfire was later fourth at odds of 1-2 in the Caulfield Guineas.

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In the eight-runner Expressway Stakes, Ole Kirk has drawn the rail and will be ridden by Tommy Berry, who was aboard for the win in the Golden Rose Stakes. Ole Kirk tends to run from off the pace, which should result in Berry taking a patient approach through the first quarter-mile.

The Expressway Stakes is the first start for Savatiano since she won the Group 2 Hot Danish Stakes for fillies and mares at seven furlongs at Rosehill Gardens on Nov. 7. By Street Cry, Savatiano is quick enough to set the pace.

The Expressway Stakes is the seventh race on a nine-race program that begins at 9:15 p.m. Eastern, or 6:15 p.m. Pacific, on Friday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.