Amateur riders’ race shaping as family affair

FAMILIES are set to do battle in today’s amateur riders’ race at Wingatui.

Some will compete together and others will be out to beat each other.

Home track trainer Terry Kennedy will combine with wife Debbie who rides Miss Norway.

Their son, Bailey, will be out to beat his mother and father aboard the John and Karen Parsonstrained Bushido.

Bailey and Debbie compete for the first time in an official race today after years of racing each other in trackwork.

It is an opportunity Bailey plans to make the most of.

‘‘If she comes up beside me around the turn I will look over and say ‘your heyday is over, it is my time to shine’,’’ he quipped

‘‘I will be spewing if she pips me on the post. It wouldn’t matter if it’s first or second, fifth or sixth or last and secondlast.’’

One would not expect Debbie to take those words lightly.

The skills that enabled her to win more than 200 races and 11 group and listed events as a fulltime jockey make her one of the most accomplished riders in today’s race.

It is exactly that kind of talent that could spark Miss Norway into life.

The horse has run down the track in all of her starts since arriving in the South from the North Island this year.

Bailey looks to have the edge over his mother, with Bushido bringing a solid laststart fourth into the race.

The main query over the horse’s chances is whether he can run out a strong 1600m in his first try at the trip on what is expected to be a testing heavy track.

The father and daughter combination of Danny and Ashley Frye also look a top chance to claim the amateur riders’ race.

Danny will seek his 198th career riding victory and first since the 201112 season when he is legged aboard All The Drama who lines up in Ashley’s colours.

The mare comes into the race on the back of a strong race for second over 1840m on a waterlogged Waimate track.

The northern mother and daughter pairing of Michelle Northcott and Bailey Rogerson will also compete in today’s race.

Northcott looks to have a slight edge over her daughter with her ride, The Kraken. The horse returned from a spell with two solid runs before his laststart flop over 1400m.

The Kraken has a better record over today’s distance of 1600m and will be a strong eachway chance if he can bounce back from his last start failure.

Bailey (17) will ride Van Gogh in today’s amateur event.

The horse has gone two fair races in its past two starts after a solid fourth at Ascot Park prior to that.

Fly Without Wings and rider Nicola Brown head the remaining chances in the race.

Fly Without Wings is proven on heavy ground and over 1600m, but must give away a weight advantage to rivals Bushido and Sir Ed who both beat her in her most recent start at Waimate.

Candice Orange has just her second official race ride on Sir Ed today.

Brown claimed the running of the Wingatui amateur’s race last year with Point Proven, who will be ridden by Lisa Kennedy this year.