19 hours ago
South Australian stayer Kirkliston Blu not to be underestimated in Banjo Paterson Series Final at Flemington
Trainer Roslyn Day has always had high hopes for Kirkliston Blu, and the promising gelding will have his staying credentials tested in Saturday's Banjo Paterson Series Final at Flemington.
The progressive son of America has hit career-best form, winning three of his last six, including an impressive one-length win in a Benchmark 78 over 2500m at Morphettville last start.
The win indicated that the four-year-old is beginning to put it all together, and while deep into a 12-run campaign, he seems to be improving with each test.
'He pulled up really well from the run,' Day, who trains at Murray Bridge, said.
'I'm probably putting him up against some horses that are above him at the moment.
'He's going really well though, there's not much else in Adelaide for the next few weeks, so we're going to have a crack at the Banjo and then have a few weeks off.
'If he runs as well as he did last time or a touch better, he will be in it there somewhere, I wouldn't be going that far for nothing.'
Kirkliston Blu gallantly staves off the challengers after doing all of the donkey work, leading the field up the tearaway leader ðŸ'°
— (@Racing) June 21, 2025
Kirkliston Blu saluted at monster odds of $101 on debut at Murray Bridge last year, even then Day knew she had a talented stayer on her hands.
He will be ridden by Paul Gatt in Saturday's Banjo Paterson Series Final (2600m), and has drawn barrier four.
'I've always had a really big opinion of this horse,' she said.
'I think I said after his first win at Murray Bridge, 'one day, when he puts it all together, he'll run in the Adelaide Cup'.
'After that first race, when he knew nothing, he got home and started to overdo things, and try and do things upside down.
'Now he's just starting to settle into the system.
'He's starting to learn to be a good, tough stayer.
'I think you have to train stayers to learn to be nice and tough, and he's just starting to put it together now.'
Day is confident Kirkliston Blu can run a strong two-mile in the future, and Adelaide Cup form is in the family, the gelding is a half brother to 2012 Adelaide Cup winner, Rialya.
A strong performance in Saturday's Banjo Paterson, against quality stayers Bold Soul and Goldenstatewarrior, will give Day even more reason to believe he can get there.
