It’s one thing for a jockey saluting in one of the country’s top Group 1 races on New Year’s Day.
It’s quite another adding six more for a remarkable, record-breaking haul of seven wins from nine rides at Pukekohe, south of Auckland.
South African rider Warren Kennedy did just that on Sunday as seasoned racing followers shook their heads in amazement to hail the ‘Wizard of Waz’.
Riding seven winners in one day had not been achieved in New Zealand, with six the previous record held by the great Lance O’Sullivan, NZ Racing Desk reported.
Kennedy capped his never-to-be-forgotten day with victory in the group one $450,000 Railway (1200m) aboard Waitak, trained by the O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott partnership.
Kennedy was last in the running aboard Waitak but timed his late finish to perfection aboard the $12 chance, which is owned by its breeder Colin Devine.
He had 1.25 lengths to spare on runner-up Bonny Lass, with the $2.70 favourite Babylon Berlin finishing seventh.
Kennedy opened the New Year in style, winning Race 1 aboard Grande Gallo ($7), also trained by the O’Sullivan-Scott duo. He then added wins aboard Bellatrix Star ($10), Pour The Wine ($8), About Time ($3.30), and Karman Line ($6.50). His only miss among those was the $2.50 favourite Terra Mitica who finished fourth in the Queen Elizabeth.
Then, after saluting aboard Waitak, Kennedy added his third Group 2 win for the day on Habana, the $3.50 favourite who got up in the final stride over Saint Bathans in the $225,000 Rich Hill Mile.
“It’s been a fantastic day. I don’t think anyone could have asked for any better. Everything has gone my way,” Kennedy told Trackside TV after Habana’s win. “We’re all here to compete and everyone is congratulating (me), they know it’s a great feat to win seven in a day.”
Shooting for a scarcely believable eighth win aboard the favourite Ominous in the 10th and final race, Kennedy’s mount dropped out to finish last. – Stuff.co.nz