The Bent Olsen-trained Kis Me Again lay last through the home turn in Herman Sallings Mindeløb Dansk Kriterium, but on the finishing line she was the best under Carlos Lopez. The full sister to last year’s 2-year-old star Kis took the first prize of 150,000 kroner ahead of Zarina and Won Of A Kind.
Even in the middle of the home straight the big 2-year-old contest looked completely open with six horses within a length and a half of each other, but none of them would end up as the winner.
From right at the back Lopez had the best speed under Kis Me Again (Moohaajim), who over the final 75 metres pressed half a length ahead of Zarina (Appel Au Maitre) and the long-time leader Won Of A Kind (Earthlight), who bravely kept First (Moohaajim), I Can Do It (Hurricane Red) and Cassius (Giant Sandman) at bay.
With Kis Me Again and Zarina as the first two past the post it became a one-two for Stutteri Hjortebo, who here got their 11th winner of Dansk Kriterium in the new millennium.
Kis Me Again is owned by Ingelise and Tony Saunders together with Per Gotfredsen – the family behind the former Stutteri Skovmarken, who 22 years ago won Dansk Kriterium as owners of the 2-year-old queen Amalia (Be My Chief).
Kis Me Again is out of the former Sceptre Stakes and Vinterfavorit winner Koo Koo Sint (Mount Nelson), who was also second in Mowerinaløb and third in Dansk St. Leger.
Koo Koo Sint has now produced three winners, of whom both Kis and Kis Me Again have won big races, and in just three weeks the mare is represented by another foal at the Scandinavian Open Yearling Sale. This time a chestnut filly belonging to the first crop by the Swedish Derby winner Red Cactus (Hard Spun).
Also from the same family, Julie Malmros is offering a chestnut Red Cactus daughter out of Code Red (Appel Au Maitre). Code Red, who is precisely a half-sister to Kis and Kis Me Again.
For Denmark’s champion trainer Bent Olsen the win with Kis Me Again was his third in Dansk Kriterium, which he first won with Reventon (Academy Award) in 2008 and later with Falconet (Falco) in 2012.
