Kipling's Journey chasing Sunshine Coast Cup upset

By Glenn Davis

Kipling’s Journey, a horse once described as having legs like a spider, will be out to cause an upset in the Listed Sunshine Coast Cup on Saturday.

The training partnership of Peter and Will Hulbert has its eyes on the major share of prizemoney in the 1400-metre feature following the gelding’s sizzling last start win at Ipswich last month.

Kipling’s Journey stopped the clock at 1min 19.67 secs in his Class Six win over 1350 metres.

“Will said the time he ran at Ipswich would have won the last four Eye Liner Stakes,” said co-trainer Peter Hulbert.

Team Hulbert also has the Listed Eye Liner Stakes in its sights during the winter with Kipling’s Journey who was a bargain buy as a yearling.

“Aquis had him early on and he was recommended to us by his breaker,” Hulbert said.

“He was a magnificent type but he was all legs and looked like a spider.

“Will got a few of his mates together to buy him and had $80,000 in the kitty but there was no reserve on him at the sale and they got him for $20,000.”

Fast forward to now and Kipling’s Journey has banked more than $208,000 in prizemoney with six wins and 11 placings from 34 starts for his syndicate of owners which includes the estate of the Hulbert’s close friend, Dave Garratt.

Garratt was a former SAS soldier who served in the Middle East and was a keen racing enthusiast and part-owner of several other horses in the Hulbert stable before he died suddenly nearly two years ago.

Kipling’s Journey was also nominated for the Benchmark 78 Handicap over 1400 metres.

“The Benchmark race looked an easier race for him on paper but he drew badly and the Cup is worth double the prizemoney,” Hulbert said.

“He’s going great and has an excellent second-up record with two wins and three placings from five attempts.

“He was a gangly type early on but he’s furnished into a magnificent strong looking animal now with dapples all over his body.

“He’s fully matured and will be very competitive.”