From a few hours away to retirement in a broodmare paddock to Group 1 glory in Saturday's $700,000 Group 1 Doomben Cup, Kenedna completed the transformation courtesy of a brilliant John Allen ride.
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustice-trained mare finished powerfully close to the rails to defeat Life Less Ordinary ($7.50) by three-quarters of a length with a long head to Sixties Groove ($21) third. (images Racing Queensland)
The daughter of Not A Single Doubt had won the Group 1 Coolmore Legacy at Randwick on April 13 but lost some lustre when unplaced in the Group II Hollindale Stakes on a bottomless track at the Gold Coast.
Queensland has been a happy hunting ground for Maher who won the Queensland Derby (Ruthven), Stradbroke Handicap (Srikandi) and Tatt's Tiara (Srikandi).
"I love coming up to Queensland it's a great time of year to get out of Victoria and get a bit of sun on your back, I'm just rapt to be able to train a horse of this order," Maher said.
"She was much better suited on a drier track today. As you saw it gave her a chance to show her acceleration.
"Kenedna arrived in great condition and was a credit to (former trainer) Darren (Weir).
"It was Darren who convinced the owners to go on with Kenedna rather than send her to stud last year.
"She has now won two Group Ones and is a very valuable broodmare."
An $80,000
purchase by Darren Weir Racing / John Foote Bloodstock / MDR Bloodstock from
the Arrowfield draft at the 2015 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, Kenedna advances
her record to 9 wins, 3 seconds and 4 thirds from 26 starts with earnings of $1,881,895.
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.
