Experience and genes on Kennedy’s side

HE may only have had six official race rides, but Bailey Kennedy will not be short of experience when he is legged aboard Prize Lord in today’s amateur riders’ race at Wingatui.

The 19yearold will know exactly when to take a hold and exactly when to push the go button given that he has spent his youth riding track gallops on the course.

Kennedy also has recent experience on his side, having jetted in from Cambridge where there were plenty of horses to keep him busy in the mornings.

‘’I am working for Mark Forbes at Kiltannon stables.

‘’I have been riding about 10 to 15 a day. We have been pretty flat out doing breakers, pretrainers and racehorses,’’ Kennedy said.

It is not just experience he has on his side.

Kennedy has race riding in his genes — his parents, Terry and Debbie, have a combined 557 wins to their names as jockeys.

The rider is not planning on amassing that many wins. Next year he intends going to the University of Otago to study accounting.

Before then, Kennedy is hoping to win his first official race and today he is aboard Prize Lord in race 3.

‘‘If it runs up to his last start it is in with a chance, but it is a bit in and out,’’ Kennedy said.

‘‘It will love the track — it won on a bog at Te Aroha.’’

The horses are a very even field of winter stayers, but the jockey Kennedy rates as the hardest to beat is 330race winner and former group 1winning jockey Jason Laking, who rides Doctor Eden.

Prize Lord is among a threehorse team Washdyke trainer Michael Daly has entered at Wingatui today.

Daly also lines up laststart Oamaru winner Mystic Power in race 5, and Deebee Black, who comes into race 7 under vastly different circumstances.

The 5yrold fell and dislodged rider Kylie Williams in her last start at Timaru early this month.

❛If it runs up to his last start it is in with a chance, but it is a bit in and out,’’ Kennedy said. It will love the track❜

— Amateur rider Bailey Kennedy talking about his mount, Prize Lord, at Wingatui today