A last-minute decision to give Kenedna one more season on the track has paid off after the five-year-old daughter of Not A Single Doubt powered home in Saturday's $300,000 Group II Matriarch Stakes (2000m) at Flemington.
After receiving a charmed run three back on the rails, Kenedna was in desperate need of an out as the came into the home straight. The inform John Allen threaded the needle between Eckstein and Miss Siska and Kenedna charged through to defeat Miss Siska (So You Think) by a long-neck with Luvaluva (Mastercraftsman) doing her best work in the finish, a head back in third. (photos Grant Courtney)
It was the fifth stakes success for the daughter of Not A Single Doubt advancing her record to 7 wins, 3 seconds and 3 thirds from 21 starts with earnings of $743,395.
"She didn't come up last preparation and then the plan was to get her in foal," Weir said.
"She spelled up at my farm and while I didn't say to put her back in work, I said to them (the owners) you should really have a think about sending her to stud because, for some reason, she has developed so much and has become big and strong and maybe another preparation may be good.
"The next day they said get her into work, so this is a dream result.
"She was a great three-year-old but there is still a bit of upside to her."
Part-owner Mick Johnston said how close they came to retiring the mare.
"The truck was booked in three days time but Weiry said I think she is ready for another prep so here we are today," Johnston revealed. 
Kenedna was an $80,000 purchase by Darren Weir Racing / John Foote Bloodstock / MDR Bloodstock from the Arrowfield draft at the 2015 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale
She is a three-quarter sister to Aquis Farm's highly popular young stallion Spill The Beans (Snitzel) who covered 202 mares in his first season in 2016 and 143 last year.
Their dam Miss Dodwell (Falbrav) was a Tamworth winner in a career restricted to two starts.
She is a half-sister to Group III winner Yammer and Listed winner Blab the dam of Group I Flight Stakes winner Speak Fondly and Group II Hobartville Stakes winner Wild And Proud.
Miss Dodwell's dam Don't Stop Talking (Ahonoora) is a half-sister to the champion Bounding Away (Biscay) the Horse of the Year in Australia in 1985-86.
Miss Dodwell's 2017 yearling filly by Smart Missile was purchased by Cameron Cooke Bloodstock $240,000 at the Inglis Easter Sale.
She has an unraced 2yo filly by Snitzel named Lady Patricia. After missing to Snitzel in 2016, Miss Dodwell foaled a full-sister to Kenedna last week.
