Kenedna was all but on the float to start her broodmare career last spring but a last minute decision to give her one more season on the track paid off in spades when she darted between runners to claim Saturday's $1 million Group 1 Coolmore Legacy (Queen Of The Turf) Stakes at Randwick.
Trained by Ciaron Maher & David Eustace following the disqualification of Darren Weir, Kenedna gave her sire Not A Single Doubt his second winner of a million race on the day after Classique Legend in the Group II Arrowfield Sprint.
Ridden by John Allan, Kenedna found a narrow seam in the final 100 metres to defeat Dixie Blossoms (Street Sense) by a half-neck with Unforgotten (Fastnet Rock) a half-head back in third. (images Steve Hart )
It was the sixth stakes success for the daughter of Not A Single Doubt advancing her record to 8 wins, 3 seconds and 4 thirds from 24 starts with earnings of $1,455,895.
"She has been knocking on the door for a while, she was Group 1 placed (in the SAJC Schweppes Oaks), Maher said.
"We thought we'd bring her in here as the fresh horse on the scene and target this race and go onto Queensland.
"She came in great order this horse. A great job by the team. That is what it is all about."
"John knows this horse probably better than I do. He does plenty of work for me. I'd say he'll be doing a lot more on the back of this."
John Allen has been on Kededna in her last five stakes wins.
"It was a great effort by the mare. She is just so genuine, Allan said
"She is definitely one of my favourites and anyone who has had anything to do with her has always been a fan.
"We had to weave a bit of a passage but she is so tough and so genuine, she really stuck her head out for me late. I never thought I was really going to get there, I thought I was going to run a place. That last 100 yards though she really surged."
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).
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. Named Kevikki she finished second at Sandown last Wednesday.
Miss Dodwell 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 spring as was bred back to Snitzel.
