Kallos wins the G3 R.N. Irwin Stakes at Morphettville

Smart sprinter Kallos showed he was not just a Flemington straight-track specialist when he jumped from the outside barrier before swooping on the leaders around the home turn on Saturday, 22 April to win the G3 R.N. Irwin Stakes (1,100m) at Morphettville.

Winner of the 2021 G2 Danehill Stakes, Kallos appeared to lose his zest for racing until Godolphin took the bold step late last year of gelding the son of Medaglia d’Oro and Calliope.

The four-year-old returned with a Hawkesbury barrier trial win before heading to Melbourne and winning twice over 1,000m at Flemington last month.

Head trainer James Cummings, who has celebrated very few victories in his famous family’s original home state, set the gelding for the Irwin Stakes.

But the G1 Goodwood Handicap (1,200m) next month is his ultimate goal if the campaign remains on track.

Patiently ridden by Ben Melham, Kallos jumped from the outside barrier on Saturday to travel in sixth spot to the home turn before he quickly joined the leaders and dashed clear to beat Mileva by 1.3 lengths.

Another Award was three-quarters of a length back in third place as the winner clocked 1min 3.53sec.

Victory lifted the four-year-old’s record to seven wins and three placings from 17 starts for prize money and bonuses totalling $676,040.

Cummings wasn’t in Adelaide but stable representative Sean Keogh was impressed by the win and, particularly, with Melham’s ride. 

“It looked like an awkward barrier and map too but, lovely, third pair back on the outside,” the Irish horseman said.

“They (leaders) really put the pressure on and it worked out beautifully for the horse.

“The team decided to geld a G2 Danehill winner but it’s really paying off now, that’s three on the bounce so he’s really on a tear.”

Kallos was dominant at weight-for-age despite his wide barrier and my not need another run before the Goodwood on 20 May.

But the G3 D.C. McKay over 1,100m is on 6 May if Cummings decides Kallos needs another hit-out.

“He’s looking like he’s back to that spring three-year-old form when he did take out the Danehill,” Keogh said.

“There could possibly be a run in between the Goodwood, so I’d say that’s the way he’ll go.”