Kindergarten was one of the few horses ever compared with the champions Carbine and Phar Lap. These photographs record his triumphs: clockwise, from top left, after winning the 1942 Auckland Cup; winning the 1941 Wellington Cup; winning the 1942 Easter Handicap; after a race; winning the 1941 Easter Handicap; and racing to win the 1941 Great Northern Derby (with his ears pricked).

Racing in the 1940s, Kindergarten consistently carried big weights, and often won from seemingly impossible positions, making him a crowd favourite. His 25 wins from 35 starts were in New Zealand during wartime, when stakes were low, so his earnings did not reflect his quality. Among his spectacular victories was the 1942 Auckland Cup, which he won in record time by five lengths, carrying the top weight of 10 stone 2 pounds (64.5 kilograms).