Australasian Oaks an Option for The Vanity Winner Kenedna

Kenedna has stormed home to beat a talented field of three-year-old fillies to the line in the Group 3 The Vanity (1400m) at Flemington Racecourse this afternoon.

Kenedna extended to the line to win the Group 3 The Vanity at Flemington this afternoon. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos

Kenedna extended to the line to win the Group 3 The Vanity at Flemington this afternoon. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos

Kenedna was fitted for blinkers for her run in The Vanity after she failed to close out her run in a Caulfield minor over 1400m last time out, and the filly did her chances no harm when jumping well and taking an ideal run in transit just off the pace of the early leaders.

Receiving a good tow into the race leading into the final straight, Kenedna immediately responded when jockey Damian Lane asked for an extra effort with 200m to run; finding the lead and maintaining well to the line to second her second career win; Extra Olives and Harlow Gold rounding out the minors.

Lane was pleased with the feel offered up by the Not A Single Doubt filly and is confident she will only improve from the performance leading further into the Autumn Carnival.

“She finished superb,” Lane said.

“The blinkers on really did the trick – she travelled during the run and she let rip late.

“The tempo was really solid through the first 400m, but then they started to stack up around the 600m which really allowed me to travel into the race closer without letting her go.

“When I did, she was in striking distance and she did the rest.”

Master trainer Darren Weir was thrilled with Kenedna’s return to winning form in The Vanity and believes that she will only improve when she finds a mile and beyond.

“She has been crying out for the blinkers, but there’s a time to put them on and we thought that she was fit enough to be able to take a little bit more of a forward position, and they’ve done the trick,” Weir said.

“She’s had a couple of runs back from the spell and has trained on really well from her last start.

“She need a mile, she’ll run further and will probably go even further than that because she has a really relaxed attitude.

“She got a beautiful ride today. Just at one stage, I thought she was going to throw her head about but Damian is riding really well and he was able to overcome that.

“The Oaks in Adelaide is definitely on the radar for her. You need to be able to run out the ten furlongs, but she gives every indication that she will.”

In being crowned The Vanity winner, Kenedna has now posted three wins and as many minors through only nine starts.

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Jared Timms

Jared graduated with a journalism degree in 2011. He is a keen sports fan and has enjoyed many accolades for his lively writing style and comprehensive coverage of major sporting events and horse racing. Today, you can find Jared cheering on his beloved Manchester City with a beer in hand.