Adelaide trainer Gary Kennewell will chase more Festival Of Perth Racing riches with Conservatorium in next week’s Group 3 $125,000 A.J. Scahill Stakes (1400m) at Ascot.
Conservatorium to have one more run at Ascot. Photo by Daniel Costello,
Kennewell had planned to return to Adelaide after Conservatorium ran in the Group 1 $1m Carlton Draught – Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot last Saturday but after finishing a luckless eighth to Luckygray had a change of mind.
“I was going to go home with the other interstate horses this week, but decided to stay for one more start,” Kennewell told The West Australian.
Kennewell was giving Conservatorium an excellent chance in the Railway Stakes after winning his previous start in the Group 2 $250,000 Waroa-Lee Steere Stakes (1400m) at Ascot on November 9 but his hopes were dashed after an incident at the 1200m.
Conservatorium was travelling sweetly for Joe Bowditch but at the 1200m the six year old received a bump to his hind legs, causing him to lose a shoe and fired him up ruining any chance he had Kennewell said.
“He went from being beautifully relaxed to being fired right up,” Kennewell said.
“The incident ruined any chance he had of winning the race. The knock on the hock was only a graze and he has had a few days of swimming to get over it.”
Conservatorium ran third to local mare Power Princess in last year’s Scahill Stakes and Kennewell is hoping to pick up another winner’s cheque before heading home.
Kennewell isn’t afraid to travel with the Royal Academy six year old and after running second to Platelet in this year’s Group 1 $500,000 The Distinctive Homes Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville on May 11, the Morphettville trainer went to Queensland to share in the Brisbane Winter Carnival spoils.
After finishing second to Galah in the Group 2 $175,000 Magic Millions QTC Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm on June 1, Conservatorium was able to claim first prize in the Listed $175,000 City Of Ipswich Eye Liner Stakes (1350m) at Ipswich on June 15.
Conservatorium then had two unplaced runs during the Melbourne Spring Carnival in the Group 1 $450,000 Programmed Moir Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on September 27 and the Group 3 $150,000 Sportingbet Moonga Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on October 19 before heading to the west.
