Top End trainer hopes another Queensland apprentice can shine
Darwin trainer Patrick Johnston is hoping that yet another Queensland apprentice will bring him further good fortune at Fannie Bay on Saturday.
Olivia Kendal booted four-year-old gelding Ankle Rolex home for Johnston over 1600m (0-64) when the Ipswich-based apprentice made her Top End debut on December 30.
Kendal is currently nursing a broken thumb, so the NT trainer has secured the services of Brisbane apprentice Minonette Kennedy – who is aligned with the Neil Docking stable at Deagon.
Kennedy has four rides aboard Johnston’s stablemates Ankle Rolex, Gelata, Barty Aya and Gotta Beat, and will also partner Phil Cole’s Diamond’n’stones as the Darwin Turf Club kicks off 2024 with a five-event program.
Ankle Rolex will be aiming for back to back wins he lines over 1300m at 0-64 level.
“Liv had a fall at Rockhampton on December 21 and when she was here she was saying that her thumb was a bit sore,” Johnston said.
“When she rode at three meetings after she got back to Queensland she got the doctor to look at it properly and she had a broken thumb.
“She’s out for a little bit, but I’ll definitely be doing my best to get her back up here when she’s available.
“I then got in contact with Minonette and she said she was available, so we’ve booked her this week.”
Kennedy, 27, who has 102 wins, had her first ride in February 2019, and after dealing with injuries and other hiccups, she is not far away from completing her apprenticeship.
With the Gold Coast’s Magic Millions program on Saturday there are a host of leading interstate jockeys in town, thus forcing local jockeys to ride at Ipswich or have the day off.
“I’ve had Pat on Facebook for a few years, so I thought I’d give him a message while I still have a claim (1.5kg),” Kennedy said.
“I know Liv well and that’s what made me think about Darwin because I saw her up there two weeks ago.
“At first, Pat thought he had another apprentice booked – he then rang me to say he didn’t have anyone coming up, so I agreed to make the trip.
“I have never been to Darwin before, but I have ridden in the opposite direction at Birdsville and there’s a few little country tracks in Queensland that race anti-clockwise.
“I’ll probably be whinging about the heat, but I’ll be right.
“Pat has sent me a few replays, I did see that Olivia won on one of them.
“Diamond’n’stones has it’s first start up there, it used to be trained down here by Olivia Cairns at Beaudesert.
“It’s got a bit of weight on Saturday, but I can claim off it.”
Kennedy also suffers from cystic fibrosis adding that her body is impacted while riding.
“All my doctors have told me that I can’t be a jockey, but I did it anyway because I was told I couldn’t,” she said.
“I’m naturally light, so I don’t have to waste or anything.”
Diamond’n’stones, returning from a 10-month spell, takes on 0-70 opposition over 1200m and although he has ability it will be a tough ask having not won since saluting over 1300m (BM65) at Mackay in July 2022.
Gelata and Barty Aya, both maidens, will appear at Class 2 (1300m) and 0-58 (1200m) level, while Gotta Beat features in a Benchmark 54 over 1000m.
Johnston was adamant that Ankle Rolex, the son of Cable Bay, had been racing well without luck and was certainly pleased with his last start win.
“I said to Olivia, go forward you’re on the best horse – don’t be scared to use him and you should be winning,” he said.
“That’s exactly what she did, I thought it was a very well-timed ride – I was very happy with it.
“I’m not really concerned about Saturday, I think he’s the best horse in the race.”
Ankle Rolex’s only other start over 1600m was in the NT Guineas in Alice Springs last April when as a $1.40 favourite with top horse racing betting sites he finished fourth.
The Guineas meeting was deferred from Saturday to Monday with rain flooding Pioneer Park and according to Johnston that threw Ankle Rolex’s preparation out the window.
“He probably would have been right had he raced on the Saturday,” he said.
“He didn’t eat on the Saturday night – there were also other issues and he was a real handful at the races on Monday.
“It was unfortunate, but that’s how it goes and I was happy to forget that run.
“Didn’t have the opportunity to get him out to the mile again until two weeks ago.
“I think a mixture of bad luck and situations sort of got his rating back down to the point where it is.
“I have him pegged as being a higher rated horse.”