Owner Nev Morgan's unwavering belief in Kovalica pays off with a last stride victory in the Group 2 Q22 at Eagle Farm
He just didn't know when.
But the stars aligned on Saturday and Kovalica returned to the scene of his Group 1 Queensland Derby triumph of 2023 – the last time he won a race – to score the rich Q22 (2200m).
But it was far from an easy watch to break the long winning drought as Kovalica dived at New Endeavour on the line and no one at Eagle Farm had much of an idea who had won.
Not even Morgan, who thought he might have been narrowly beaten.
But when the judge put the winner's number up, Kovalica was in the frame.
Kovalica may have not won for a long time and he has often been a tease.
But in fairness he has raced at a high level including tackling a Cox Plate, Melbourne Cup, Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Doncaster Miles.
'Of course I thought he would win again,' Morgan, who owns Kovalica with fellow Queenslander and great mate David Devine, said.
'Even before today, he had won $3.3 million in prizemoney.
'He races in all the good races.
'I hope he could even be a Melbourne Cup horse this year, he only got beaten four lengths in the race last year.
Kovalica WINS the G2 Q22 by a whisker! ðŸ'¥ @cwallerracing @nashhot pic.twitter.com/iK5rnPMjzJ
â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 14, 2025
• Cool Archie delivers Group 1 milestones in JJ Atkins
'The maestro (Chris Waller) will work all that out.
'I didn't think this horse had won on the line today but my son-in-law said he thought he had, so I'm glad he was right.'
Winning rider Nash Rawiller also had no idea whether Kovalica had broken the drought.
'It was a long ride back to scale, making sure that I'd got there,' Rawiller said.
'I feel like I've redeemed myself for saying he'd win the Melbourne Cup last year.
'What a horse he's been.
'We made a call during the week – as late as Tuesday morning – to put the blinkers on today.
'You could tell in the run that he was going to do something.
'I've had a bit of a shit time lately, so I feel like I've bounced right back in a big way.'
Plenty have questioned whether Kovalica would get back to the winner's stall, but not Waller and his team.
'We haven't lost faith in him and he's been a good horse without winning,' Waller said.
'It took the length of the Eagle Farm straight to get there.
'That's his first win for a couple of years.
'He's been working to something good.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
7 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Early Mail: Reuben Garrick ‘heard a crack' in shoulder, Starford To'a AC joint injury
Manly centre Reuben Garrick 'heard a crack' and failed to return against the Tigers due to a shoulder injury. Garrick landed on his outstretched arm at the 18 minute mark and came from the field soon afterwards. The Sea Eagles have confirmed he will be sent for scans to determine the severity of the injury. He was slammed into the Allianz Stadium turf by Jarome Luai and Sunia Turuva, with Fox Sports sideline commentator Matt Russell reporting the centre heard a crack on impact. Garrick has been a dependable contributor for the Sea Eagles this season, playing every game, kicking goals and scoring the third most points of any player in the NRL. Meanwhile, Starford To'a didn't return for the Tigers due to an AC joint injury suffered early in the second half.
ABC News
37 minutes ago
- ABC News
Hawthorn hands Brisbane third straight AFLW season-opening loss
Hawthorn has laid down their marker as the AFLW team to watch after claiming a thrilling four-point away win over perennial contenders Brisbane in their season opener. The Hawks, who lost to eventual grand finalists Brisbane in their qualifying final last season, headed to Ipswich on Sunday with a point to prove. Daniel Webster's charges defended their hearts out to claim a 4.9 (33) to 3.11 (29) victory in front of 4,208 fans, leaving Brisbane to rue their wastefulness, particularly a late miss by Dakota Davidson, who hit the post with a potentially game-tying shot with five-and-a-half minutes left. "Especially after last year's finals, we wanted to make a statement, and I think we came out and did that, which is really good," defender Tilly Lucas-Rodd told the Seven Network. Hawthorn was defensively brilliant, keeping Brisbane goalless in the second and third quarters. The Hawks suffered a massive pre-game blow when Irish gun Aileen Gilroy withdrew through injury, and had another scare when Jasmine Fleming went down, grabbing her right knee in the third quarter, but she had it taped and was able to return to play. Hawthorn led by 13 points at the start of the final term when Fleming burst out of a stoppage and hit Aine McDonagh on the chest for her second goal, before a wonderful goal from Ellie Hampson gave Brisbane a second wind. The Lions kept peppering Hawthorn's goal without snatching the lead, with Davidson's close miss from just right of the goals while trailing 33-27 being the toughest pill to swallow as Brisbane opened a third consecutive season with a home loss. Do you have a story idea about women in sport? Email us abcsport5050@ AAP
ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
Sydney Football Stadium to shut for remediation work, taxpayers won't foot bill, premier says
NSW taxpayers won't be expected to foot the bill for the weeks of remediation work to Sydney Football Stadium's playing field, the premier has assured. The $828 million venue in Moore Park, home of Sydney FC, the Sydney Roosters and the NSW Waratahs, will close for 10 weeks after the Wallabies take on Argentina on September 13. Over the past 12 month the field of play "has not been draining as intended", with a report finding it was due to contamination in the drainage layer dating back to when the stadium was rebuilt in 2022. "The clay and silt had mixed with coarser sand to severely reduce drainage rates to 40mm per hour. "This is unacceptable for a sand-based sporting field, which should drain at 300mm-600mm per hour." Most impacted will be Sydney FC, with the A-League club having to move its first games when the season starts in October. Premier Chris Minns said it was concerning the stadium wasn't "up to scratch" and that the surface had been impacting teams. "So we need to get on it. Obviously that can't happen while football's taking place, and we need the stadium as we head into the final season," Mr Minns said. "It's important that as a showpiece stadium, one of the best in the country, if not the world, that it's as good on the playing field as it is in the stands." The final cost of the fixes have not been confirmed, but the premier said the government and Venues NSW were aligned in "believing there's been an error in the original construction". "So I don't anticipate any cost for NSW taxpayers. The understanding, for want of a better expression, is it's still under warranty," Mr Minns said. "I mean the thing's brand new. So we would expect the builder to fix it up." American artist Kendrick Lamar will be among the first performers to use the grounds in December. New turf will then need to be laid for A-league fixtures after those events are completed. A spokesperson for Sydney FC called moving its home games during the first three months of the season "hugely disruptive" and "financially detrimental". "We are working closely with Venues NSW and our Members and Partners to minimise this disruption and ensure the best possible outcomes for everyone," Sydney FC said in a statement. "Having a playing surface suitable to host top level professional football is of paramount importance to Sydney FC."
