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Collier Hill edges Kastoria in Vase
Kastoria, who had been loping along in midpack through the first six furlongs, was trapped behind the fading pace factors and shuffled back to last at the head of the lane. Jockey Mick Kinane regrouped, finding a seam between foes in midstretch, and Kastoria turned on the afterburners. With giant, raking strides, the Aga Khan colorbearer burst from the pack and set her sights squarely on Collier Hill. From that point forward, the last two winners of the Irish St Leger (Ire-G1) put on quite a show. 2005 Irish St Leger hero Collier Hill appeared to be tiring, with his head coming up and his body laboring. In contrast, 2006 Irish St Leger queen Kastoria was brimming with energy as she drew alongside her rival's flank, the only question being whether the line would come too soon for her. Collier Hill switched leads in the shadow of the wire and held himself together long enough to eke out the victory. Just past the post, Kastoria rolled by and was clearly in front on the gallop-out, but not when it counted most. "I knew I had won turning for home," McKeown joked. "I was struggling five furlongs out as they'd gone very quick, but when he saw daylight he surged forward. He then started to look at the crowd 100 yards out, but when Kastoria came at him, he knuckled down again and stuck his head out." Trainer Alan Swinbank, the mastermind behind Collier Hill's stunning transformation from hurdler to international Group 1 hero, shed further light on what his charge had to overcome. "It was touch and go two days ago as to whether he'd run as he was dehydrated," Swinbank explained. "It was only yesterday he'd come right. He's always had troubles with his joints, but he's battled through his troubles." "I was in the perfect position behind Collier Hill," Kinane said of Kastoria's trip, "but I got shut out on the turn, and it cost me three or four lengths. She fairly flew home. I was unlucky." The Aga Khan's other Vase runner, Shamdala (Grand Lodge), likewise finished with interest to secure third, one length behind the top pair. Next came Song of Wind, Maraahel (Alzao), Egerton, Scorpion, Admire Main and Saturn. The well traveled Collier Hill's scorecard now reads 45-15-10-6, including seven stakes wins in six countries. Last time out, he posted another game photo-finish victory in the October 22 Canadian International S. (Can-G1) at Woodbine. A two-time winner of the Stockholm Cup International (Swe-G3), the chestnut gelding also garnered the 2005 Gerling-Preis (Ger-G2) and 2004 Braveheart S. in Great Britain. His Irish St Leger triumph earned him honors as Ireland's co-highweight older horse at 14 furlongs and beyond in 2005. Collier Hill has also placed in seven stakes, most notably the past two editions of the Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-G1). Few could have predicted such an august resume when Collier Hill was slogging over hurdles early in his career. Bred in Great Britain by George Strawbridge, Collier Hill was sold for $180,000 at last year's Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale and now sports the colors of R. D. Hall, J. D. Abell and R. Crowe. Out of the winning Polish Precedent mare Polar Queen, his third dam is 1975 Coronation S. (Eng-G2) queen Roussalka (GB) (Habitat), who in turn produced multiple stakes victress and Group 1-placed Gayane (GB) (Nureyev), Group 2 heroine Ristna (GB) (Kris) and Group 3 winner Shahid (GB) (Green Desert). This is the family of champion Oh So Sharp (Ire) (Kris), who captured the 1985 One Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1), Epsom Oaks (Eng-G1) and St Leger (Eng-G1) to garner the Fillies' Triple Crown. Swinbank is already formulating plans for Collier Hill's nine-year-old campaign. "He'll go for the Sheema Classic (on March 31) and hopefully go one better than last year," the horseman said.
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