Dash For Cash gelding Kirani has turned the corner with a perfect strike-rate for trainer Pat Hyland this season.

The Cranbourne based galloper was a front-running winner first-up at Sale on October 1 before chasing down the leader for an impressive victory in the Peter Horobin Saddlery Hcp (1400m) at his home track on Friday evening.

Kirani (4g Dash For Cash – Clay Finale by Clay Hero) was bred by the late Bill Lanyan with a Dash For Cash service fee that was a present from Pat’s son Sam Hyland.  He had won it as a prize for a jockeys premiership at the Warrnambool carnival.

“He was a handful early on – he didn’t want a bar of the barriers,” Pat Hyland recalled.  “But he’s going well now and really had a crack tonight.”

Kirani is a younger half-brother to Sinar Bintang (General Nediym) who was a Listed winner of the Sultan Gold Vase at Perak.  “He’s got ability,” winning jockey Ryan Maloney said after weighing out at Cranbourne.  “And he can lead or chase.”

Bill Lanyan’s son Ross races Kirani under the Clay Hero Pty Ltd banner – Lanyan snr had won Group 1 races with Seltrice (1980 WA Derby) and Clay Hero (1989 Oakleigh Plate).  “Dad retained shares in Clay Hero when he retired to stud,” Ross recalled.  “He bought a number of mares to go to him while he stood in New Zealand and Victoria.”

Dash For Cash is based at Scenic Lodge and is serving his first book of Sunspeed mares at a $7,700 (inc gst) fee.