Sibling bragging rights
Full brothers to race for shiny $1m Jewel
A pair of equine brothers will be trying to outdo each other and claim sibling bragging rights as they bid for a collective $1m worth of races on QTIS Jewel day on the Gold Coast on Saturday.
Two-year-old Defiant Boom and his three-year-old full brother Defiant Spirit, both trained on the Sunshine Coast by Stuart Kendrick, will contest the $500,000 QTIS Jewel 2YO and the $500,000 QTIS Jewel 3YO respectively.
Defiant Spirit has the runs on the board, having won four races and more than $360,000 in prize money, while younger brother Defiant Boom remains a maiden after three starts but has raced well behind some talented juveniles and has never missed a place.
Both are sons of Spirit Of Boom and their mother is Defiant Dame.
“These horses were both very relaxed horses around the stable from day one, pretty much with everything they do,” Kendrick said.
“Defiant Spirit is small in stature, whereas Defiant Boom is a more rangy type and is going to be a lot bigger horse.
“With Defiant Spirit, every time he has got back in a field he has hit the line really hard and shown a great turn of foot.
“Defiant Boom has probably got a bit more tactical speed at this stage, even in jumpouts he has led them and won them quite comfortably.
“But his older brother is a little bit the opposite, he can really hit the line hard.”
Adding to the brotherly theme is that Kendrick’s two sons – brothers Nathan and Bayley – both work at his Sunshine Coast stables.
Defiant Spirit’s prospects in the Jewel 3YO were made tougher when he drew the outside barrier 20, but he is a getback type anyway and jockey Robbie Dolan will be tasked with performing some magic.
Despite the carpark barrier, Kendrick likes Defiant Spirit’s chances in the Jewel 3YO.
He thinks he has the class to win after scoring in impressive fashion last start and before that being beaten only a length and a half by Abounding in the $3m Gold Coast Magic Millions Guineas in January.
Defiant Spirit could yet emerge as a serious Queensland winter carnival player.
“He is going to make a really good winter carnival horse,” Kendrick said.
“His natural ability will take him a long way in the Jewel on Saturday. Having said that, the race looks fairly strong and he will be back in the field and need some luck.
“But if he runs up to his win the other day, he’s going to be extremely hard to beat.
“This horse is in a very good place at the moment and has always shown a lot of ability.”
Kendrick isn’t ruling out Defiant Boom running a cheeky race.
“Both of these brothers are good chances on Saturday,” Kendrick said.
Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Michael Rodd will again partner Defiant Boom on Saturday.
Defiant Spirit is the $4 favourite on TAB fixed odds to win the 3YO Jewel, while Defiant Boom is rated a $5 chance in the 2YO Jewel.