A bargain buy has turned into a real money spinner for Euroley trainer David Kennedy.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Shes Sporty was a $4000 purchase at the Bathurst Yearling Sales but has more than paid pack her price tag after taking out the Group Two NSW Breeders Challenge Blue on Saturday night.
The two-year-old filly took out the $50,000 feature by 1.9 metres, holding off the fast-finishing Text Message for former Ganmain trainer-driver KerryAnn Turner.
Now a winner of three of her 10 starts, plus two placings, Shes Sporty has had an up and down season, but Kennedy was pleased she was finally able to deliver on her potential.
“I’ve had a bit of drama with her but I thought I’d got her pretty sound and she was a good chance to run up to her best, which she did,” Kennedy said.
“She is good gaited but has been galloping for no reason.
“When she came back from Jarrod (Alchin)’s she had foot issues and whether that has been the problem all along I’m not sure.
“But I shod her with some aluminum plates under her feet, at the recommendation of a mate of mine Bruce Fox.
“The last week or 10 days, since she raced at Leeton when I reshod her, she’s been a lot happier in herself.
“I was pretty confident she would do the job.”
Shes Sporty was an impressive winner on debut at Swan Hill but a tendency to break stride cost her plenty of opportunities.
It included her shot in the Group One Bathurst Gold Crown for Kennedy plus the NSW Breeders Challenge series after galloping while under the care of Jarrod Alchin.
Kennedy has always had a nice opinion of the filly.
“Ever since she first started I really liked her, but we just had dramas,” he said.
Shes Sporty is already in the paddock, joining Kennedy in having a break.
The Euroley horseman is already eyeing a race he’s already had success in – the NSW Oaks.
“When I get her back we might have a crack at the Oaks next year,” Kennedy said.
“I don’t think she’s too far off the good ones when she decides to do everything right.”
She rated a mile rate of 1:55.3 in victory on Saturday night.
Running her last two quarters in 28.6 seconds, the time has definitely caught Kennedy’s eye.
“I thought she was good enough to win the main (Breeders Challenge) race but we never qualified for that,” he said.
“She went the same time as Molly Kelly winning that race but with a bit of luck next year and being a little stronger and sounder hopefully we can get a little bit more money.”
In-form reinsman Blake Jones was at the helm for the win.
Sent forward from barrier nine, the daughter of Sportswriter was able to find the front and looked to be going on for a very comfortable win before Text Message closed late.
Kennedy also paid plenty of credit to Alchin, who has trained the filly at two stages over the season.