Joseph O'Brien, who became the youngest trainer to win the Emirates Melbourne Cup (G1) with Rekindling at the age of 24 in 2017, will unleash a half sister to the star stayer at Killarney Aug. 19.
Three-year-old Gleneagles filly Kalakaua will race in the colors of Qatar Racing having been purchased by David Redvers for 115,000 guineas (US$158,098) from the Castelbridge Consignment at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale in 2018. She will be ridden on her debut by Declan McDonogh.
Kalakaua had previously changed hands when purchased as a foal by Exclusive Equine Investments for 240,000 guineas ($340,931) at the Tattersalls December Sale, when offered by the Pocock Family's Stringston Farm, who bred the filly as well as her illustrious sibling.
She is also closely related to the group 1-placed juvenile Sydney Opera House and a half sister to the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (G1) second Golden Sword, out of the winning Salse mare Sitara, who was bred and raced by Luca Cumani's Fittocks Stud.
Sitara also has a 2-year-old Toronado colt Bazaari, a filly foal by Sea The Moon and visited Postponed in the spring.
Rekindling, by High Chaparral, has had only two starts since his Melbourne Cup heroics when finishing down the field in the Australian Cup (G1) for trainer Liam Howley last March and when saddled by O'Brien to finish sixth in a qualified riders' race at Leopardstown last month.
Kalakaua faces no easy task on debut as chief among her 12 opponents in the 11-furlong fillies' maiden is Lugnaquilla, a Galileo full sister to the ill-fated Derby second Cliffs of Moher who was a close fourth to Ennistymon on her only previous start at Leopardstown.
She is saddled by O'Brien's brother Donnacha, will be ridden by the in-form Gavin Ryan and carries the colors of Evie Stockwell.
Their father Aidan, meanwhile, sends out the vastly more experienced Salsa—a Galileo full sister to the top-flight winners Hermosa, Hydrangea, and The United States—for the Coolmore partners.
Salsa, who has five starts under her belt, should not be discounted too lightly based on her second to Snow in a Curragh maiden in June, with the smart winner a Galileo sister to Kew Gardens.
