Season of Success: Kinnaird the Kingpin

Beginning the New Year in exciting fashion, exciting juvenile Kinnaird (2 c Home Affairs – Orinda, by O'Reilly) continued Te Akau Racing's outstanding record in the $225,000 Group 2 SkyCity Eclipse Stakes (1200m), producing a powerful finishing burst to win the prestigious Ellerslie feature on New Year's Day.

A colt that had impressed from the outset with his size, strength and natural precocity, Kinnaird had made a winning debut over 1100 metres at Otaki on 30 November, and further confirmed his promise with a performance full of class in the Eclipse Stakes.

The victory continued Te Akau's remarkable success in the race, with Kinnaird joining Bellatrix Star (Star Witness), Trobriand (Kermadec) and Horse of the Year Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) as the stable's fourth winner in the past six years and sixth Eclipse Stakes winner overall.

Ridden patiently by stable jockey Opie Bosson ONZM, who had been particularly bullish about the colt's potential, Kinnaird settled comfortably off the pace before producing an electric turn of foot. Sixth turning for home, he darted through near the rail at the 200 metres and charged to the line with an undeniable finish.

On Soft6 footing, Kinnaird covered the 1200 metres in 1:12.6, with an approximate final 600 metres of 35.8 seconds, returning NZ TAB dividends of $7.00 and $1.80.

Following his Eclipse Stakes' success, Kinnaird took his place in the $1 million TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m), where Te Akau was chasing a remarkable ninth victory in the race, having won seven consecutively between 2017 and 2023 before Champion Two-Year-Old La Dorada (Super Seth) added another in 2025.

Owned by the Te Akau Home and Abroad Racing Partnership (Mgr: Lady Karyn Ellis MNZM), Kinnaird was purchased by Sir David Ellis CNZM for $340,000 from the Highview Stud draft at the 2025 Karaka Book 1 Sale.

By first-season sire sensation Home Affairs (I Am Invincible), the Australian Champion Three-Year-Old and now Leading Australian First Season Sire, Kinnaird is a half-brother to Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) winner and sire Jon Snow (Iffraaj).

Standing at Coolmore Stud, Home Affairs was an outstanding racehorse, winning the Group 2 Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m) as a two-year-old before being crowned Australia's Champion Three-Year-Old Colt following victories in both the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) and Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington.

His pedigree is equally impressive, with his dam Miss Interiors (Flying Spur) a half-sister to Group One winner and leading first-season sire Russian Revolution (Snitzel), as well as Group Three winner Turbo Miss (Sebring).

Kinnaird's dam, Orinda, by New Zealand Champion Broodmare Sire O'Reilly (Last Tycoon), was a dual winner over 1400 metres and has already produced Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) winner Jon Snow, along with six-time winner and stakes' performer Princess Rhaenys (Iffraaj).

The family is among the most celebrated in the New Zealand Stud Book, descending from the legendary Soliloquy (Sobig), one of the great foundation mares for Richard Moore. Through five generations, the family has produced no fewer than 12 individual Group One winners, underlining the extraordinary depth of quality that continues to emerge from this famous maternal line.

At the time of purchasing Kinnaird, Ellis said: "He's a fast looking two-year-old type and we love that Home Affairs is really stamping his yearlings as quality types.

"Any time we see something in the catalogue from the Soliloquy family that takes our eye it's exciting, and we were thrilled to be able to buy him."

Kinnaird carries a bloodline cross to Champion Sire Nureyev (Northern Dancer), renowned for his exceptional turn of foot, while Home Affairs is bred on the influential Danehill sire line.

Back in training at Matamata, Kinnaird is scheduled to jump out and trial during July as he prepares for another exciting campaign.

Te Akau's previous winners of the Group 2 Eclipse Stakes (1200m):

2024 – Bellatrix Star (Star Witness)

2023 – Trobriand (Kermadec)

2021 – Imperatriz (I Am Invincible)

2012 – Warhorse (General Nediym)

1998 – Te Akau Class (Masterclass)