The Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate are lofty spring goals trainer Ciaron Maher is considering for PJ O’Shea Stakes winner Kenedna.
Ridden by John Allen, Kenedna ended her stellar Brisbane carnival campaign with a flourish, winning the Group Two O’Shea Stakes to add to her Group One success in the Doomben Cup last month.
“The Doomben Cup was her target up here, she won the Coolmore Legacy on the way through, and now this is just a bonus,” Maher said.
“Johnny understands her so well. He pushed the button at the right time and she was too good for them.”
Kenedna ($3.80) swept clear in the straight to win by 1-3/4 lengths from the $3.60 favourite Sixties Groove, with Re Edit ($31) a long head away third.
Maher said Kenedna’s owners were keen for the mare to race on again next season with Group One races in Melbourne during the spring carnival firmly on the agenda.
“We’ll put the cue in the rack now and target maybe even a Caulfield Cup or a Cox Plate or something like that in the spring,” Maher said.
“Looking at her form throughout her career this is probably her best campaign so if she can improve a little bit again who knows where she’ll end up.
“We’ll let the dust settle, give her a bit of time in the sun here and get her back down there when it warms up a bit.”
Allen said Kenedna was worthy of 2019 Caulfield Cup consideration if Maher targets that race.
“She’s very genuine, tries very hard. For a Cox Plate she’d probably have to step up to another level but the Caulfield Cup being a mare with a low weight she’d be in with a show,” he said.
Re Edit pleased jockey Robbie Fradd to fight on for third after being trapped three-wide in the early stages before pressing on to lead at the 1000m.
