The Early Spring form of Doomben Cup winner Kenedna will determine whether she is aimed towards a 2019 Cox Plate campaign.
Kenedna, above in blue and white colours, could be set for a 2019 Cox Plate campaign during the Melbourne Spring Carnival. Photo by Steve Hart.
Kenedna showed that she is a genuine Group 1 weight for age performer with win in the $700,000 Doomben Cup (2000m) at Doomben during the 2019 Brisbane Winter Carnival which came two starts after the Not A Single Doubt mare won the Group 1 $1m Coolmore Legacy Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Day Two of The Championships April 13.
Trainer David Eustace, who trains in partnership with Ciaron Maher, said that a definite Spring Carnival plan is yet to be ironed out for Kenedna and her early Spring form will determine if she is aimed towards the Group 1 $5m Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley on October 26.
“She has just gone back into some very light work down at the beach,” Eustace told RSN927.
“She had a super campaign and she will be aimed at the Spring races. We haven’t quite worked out whether she’s going to go in handicap company in the Caulfdield Cup or we aim for the Cox Plate.
“Her lead-up runs, we’ll be guided by those a little bit.”
The Group 1 $5.15m Stella Artois Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield on October 19 is also a Spring Carnival option for Kenedna.
Early betting for the 2019 Cox Plate at Ladbrokes.com.au has Kenedna marked as a $26 chance while Tasmania’s Melbourne Autumn Carnival star Mystic Journey has been installed as the $4.60 favourite.
Mystic Journey strung together six successive wins which included two wins during the 2018 Melbourne Spring Carnival and culminated with two wins at Flemington during the 2019 Melbourne Autumn Carnival in the Group 1 $1m Australian Guineas (1600m) and in the $5m All-Star Mile (1600m) .
Early betting for the 2019 Cox Plate at Ladbrokes.com.au: $4.60 Mystic Journey, $6 Avilius, $8 Iys Gracieux, $9 Almond Eye, $11 Verry Elleegant, $13 Benbatl, $15 Crystal Ocean, Humidor, Kluger, $17 Deirdre, Ghaiyyath, Indy Champ, Te Akau Shark, $21 Aerolithe, Best Solution, Cheval Grand, Happy Clapper, Homesman, Kiseki, Melody Belle, Prince Fawaz, $26 Blair House, Brutal, Danceteria, He’s Eminent, Johannes Vermeer, Kenedna, Magical, Rekindling, Rostropovich, Zabeel Prince, $31 or better the rest.
