Krypton had his first start for the Darren Egan stable over 1400 metres at Balaklava yesterday after a thirty five week layoff. Three claiming apprentice Eran Boyd was up. The pair settled at the rear from the wide gate. Eran began working the gelding into the race before the turn. Knowing that Krypton had not previously raced in the Adelaide direction, Eran, a mollydooker, chose to use the whip in her right hand. Unexpectedly Krypton started to lay in up the straight. Eran was forced to stop riding on several occasions to straighten the gelding.
Mustang Schiller had raced clear of the field and it appeared that the race was over but surprising everyone Krypton took a run inside the short priced favourite and hit the line hard. The photo showed that he had done enough – just.
“That’s my horse!” exclaimed delighted owner Tanith O’Brien straight after the race.
“It was a god win,” said Darren after the race “Eran did a great job on him. Given the way he kept ducking in the straight most other jockeys would have given up on him. If he ran straight the margin would have been a lot further. He is still very new. He’s like that at the stables … He’s still like a two year old”.
A race replay can be found at this link: Race 8 Balaklava 04 Dec 2013
When the gelding first arrived at Darren’s stables he would walk the box. For a while Darren considered finding Krypton a goat for a companion. But thinking outside of the box Darren strung up a stuffed toy in the centre of his box. It did the trick. Krypton took to the toy and settled down. He is no longer a box walker.”
Five year old Krypton is by Hussonet and the first foal from Lauriston Thoroughbred Farm’s mare Encapsulate. Krypton is a half-brother to four year old Swipeline – a three time Morphettville winner for trainer Tony McEvoy.
