Veteran Destiny’s Kiss lands McKell Cup

Destiny's Kiss wins the McKell Cup.
Ageless racetrack warrior Destiny’s Kiss has won the McKell Cup at Randwick at his 83rd start.

There are better horses racing in Sydney but few more durable or popular than Destiny’s Kiss who has won the Listed McKell Cup as a nine-year-old at his 83rd start.

Joe Pride has trained multiple Group One winners, recently retiring one of those, Terravista.

But Destiny’s Kiss shows no signs of stopping and is now likely to be given his chance in the Group Two Brisbane Cup in two weeks.

The Nick Moraitis-owned Destiny’s Kiss ($21) was ridden on Saturday by Jay Ford who stoked him up from the 900m point in the 2400m-feature.

The gelding kept plugging away down the straight to overhaul Naval Warfare ($3.40) and win by a neck with the favourite Our Century ($2.30) another 1-1/4 lengths third.

“I wish they were all as easy to train as him,” Pride said.

“He never seems to get tired and he loves being in the stable.

“I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to retire him. We’re looking at the Brisbane Cup. He will get a lot of weight but I think he deserves a go.”

Pride said as he watched the race unfold, his confidence grew.

“As he was coming down the straight I knew he was in with a chance. He is such a gallant horse and never runs second so I thought he would get past the other horse.

“He’s not very big but he he’s all heart.”

Pride said to keep Destiny’s Kiss in the best possible racing shape given his age, he had turned to his old boss, Hong Kong-based trainer John Size, recently inducted to the Australian Racing Hall of Fame.

“I spoke to John Size and he said not to race him as much and trial him instead,” Pride said.

“So that’s what we did. We gave him a nice trial on Monday.

“I knew he would improve from Rosehill to Randwick, especially up to 2400 metres.”

Ford said he got going at the 900m to ensure he was ready to pounce.

“He ran a controlled race,” he said.

“I put myself within striking distance and halfway up the straight I knew he could get there.”

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