Trainer Terry Kennedy is hoping the addition of some headgear will help sharpen his promising three-year-old Hakadecree for Saturday’s Listed Dunedin Guineas (1500m) at Wingatui.
The son of War Decree has impressed in his four starts to date, posting two wins and two runner-up performances, including a last start second to Aberlour in the Listed Gore Guineas (1335m).
Kennedy was pleased with the result but said he got distracted in the closing stages of the race, which he thinks cost the gelding victory.
“He got to the front and gawked around and didn’t concentrate that much, but he still went a good race,” he said.
“He has got blinkers on this week so hopefully he concentrates a bit better when he gets there.”
Hakadecree has drawn a wide alley of 10 in the 14-horse field, but Kennedy believes he will still be able to find a handy position from that gate.
“He has got plenty of gate speed, so he should get across and be out of trouble somewhere, fifth or sixth,” he said.
“He is getting better and better each time. He is going to be very competitive.”
Kennedy’s plan is to compete in all three southern Guineas races with Hakadecree and is hoping to snare the lion’s share of the prizemoney in the latter two races before potentially sending his charge for a spell.
“It is great money – $80,000, $100,000, and Invercargill is $120,000. If everything goes well on Saturday, he will head to Invercargill after that,” Kennedy said.
“He is going to be a better horse next year, so I don’t want to overtax him this year.”
The Wingatui horseman will also be aiming to gain some black-type with his last start winner Nobellem in the Group 3 White Robe Lodge Weight For Age (1600m).
“She won nice last start. I know it is a big step up in grade and she hasn’t run over further than 1335m, but the way she won the other day I think she deserves her chance to have a go at trying to get some black-type for her broodmare career,” Kennedy said.
“It is always good to support the White Robe Day. Take the top three or four out and they are all pretty even horses.”
Kennedy said he will wait and see how Nobellem handles the mile on Saturday before mapping out her future targets.
“We will just play it by ear,” he said. “We are not quite sure whether she will get a mile. There is some pretty good racing coming up for her up to 1400m if she doesn’t get the mile, so we will work that out after Saturday.”
Kennedy will line-up nine other runners on Saturday, and rates Bourbon Chique in the Steve Anderton Memorial 65 1200m and Gordon in the Grand Casino Maiden (1400m) as his two best chances.
“I have only had Bourbon Chique for one start and she went a really good race for second,” he said. “I have got a maidener called Gordon who went quite well on debut for fifth, and should be a good chance. The rest are all chances if everything pans out on the day.”
Meanwhile, Kennedy was a proud father over the weekend when his jockey daughter Jayla rode her first Melbourne metropolitan winner when victorious aboard Ceerseven at The Valley on Saturday, coincidentally beating Brookly Boss, a son of Zoe Brook, who Kennedy trained in New Zealand.
“She only just made it but that is where you have got to win, on the line,” Kennedy said. “It was a big thrill for Debbie (wife/mother) and I, she is going really well over there.”
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