Deiheros to return to tackle Stradbroke Handicap

Top Adelaide trainer Lloyd Kennewell is keen to return to Queensland with his smart three year old Deiheros to tackle the Group 1 $2m AAMI Stradbroke Handicap (1350m) after starring at the Magic Millions Carnival at the Gold Coast last Saturday.

Deiheros scores a clear cut win in the Magic Millions 3yo Guineas at the Gold Coast. Photo by Daniel Costello.

Deiheros scores a clear cut win in the Magic Millions 3yo Guineas at the Gold Coast. Photo by Daniel Costello.

Kennewell admits that Deiheros isn’t the best of his current three year olds in his Morphettville stables but was impressed with the toughness he showed in winning the $1m Magic Millions 3yo Guineas (1400m) by a clear two lengths margin.

“I have got a lot of good three-year-olds at home and there are two or three that are better than him and Get The Nod is probably the best horse I’ve trained,” Kennewell told the Gold Coast Bulletin.

“But Deiheros is a good horse and he tries hard.”

Deiheros arrived on the Gold Coast with four wins on his record but never really threatened when tenth of thirteen behind Mywayorthehighway in the Group 3 $150,000 Vo Rogue Plate (1350m) at Gold Coast on December 27.

But the Bon Hoffa gelding bounced back to his best to collect the major prize in the 3yo Guineas, giving Kennewell the confidence to aim for something higher.

Kennewell has already mapped out an Autumn/Winter Carnival plan with the Group 2 $250,000 Sportingbet Stakes (1200m) for the three year olds at Morphettville on May 9 as the campaign starting point.

Deiheros will then head back to Queensland to run against his own age before taking on the open sprinters in the Group 1 $2m AAMI Stradbroke Handicap which will be run over 1350m at Doomben this year instead of the traditional 1400m at Eagle Farm because of the Eagle Farm track reconstruction.

“In Adelaide there is the Group 2 Sportingbet Stakes for three-year-olds and he will run in that and then we will bring him straight up to Queensland,” Kennewell said.

“Ideally we will target the three-year-old races up here plus the Stradbroke.”

Deiheros took his prizemoney earnings over the $740,000 mark for the Koumi family who only paid $6,500 for him at the 2013 Adelaide Yearling Sales.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.