Ken’s Dream Leads All The Way in McKenzie Stakes

Ken’s Dream has completed a smart start-to-finish performance to take out the Listed McKenzie Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley Racecourse this afternoon.

Ken's Dream continued his unbeaten career start with success in this afternoon's Listed McKenzie Stakes at Moonee Valley. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos

Ken’s Dream continued his unbeaten career start with success in this afternoon’s Listed McKenzie Stakes at Moonee Valley. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos

Ken’s Dream more than stamped himself as a colt to follow with a dominant on debut at Echuca on August 7th, and the three-year-old gave himself every chance of a successful transition to black type racing when jumping well and immediately taking up the pace in the McKenzie Stakes.

Challenged by the Lindsay Park-trained Dam Ready rounding onto the final straight, the Dream Ahead colt only continued to find as the race concluded and found the line a comfortable length in the clear.

Veteran hoop Dean Yendall delivered a smart performance aboard Ken’s Dream to win the McKenzie Stakes and believes the sky is the limit for the talented colt.

“The boss said that we’re not at Echuca today and we’ve got the work cut out today,” Yendall said.

“The plan was to be outside the lead or one-one, but when he began so quick and it was handed up to me straight away I just used my initiative and let him be where he’s happy.

“Getting to the 500m I knew one was pressuring me there, so I got on my bike a bit and asked him to quicken up a bit which he did.

“He was so solid through to the line. I dropped the rein in the last 50m but I gathered it up pretty quick.

“He’s still new and learning, but he does everything in his stride and is so adaptable. He’s just trotting back comfortably and wouldn’t even know he’s had a run.”

Trainer Darren Weir was pleased with Ken’s Dream’s McKenzie Stakes win but revealed he was unsure how he would perform when viewing the horse in the parading ring.

“When he found the front, they didn’t look to be going too quick early and he was able to kick away well in the straight,” Weir said.

“It’s a hard thing to do, win a maiden in the bush and then come to town and win a Listed race.

“The little concern would be if there’s much more to come. When I looked at him in the yard I thought he looked like he’s light enough for where he is at this stage of the preparation.

“That’s going to be the tough thing now – whether we have to stop or whether we just space his runs.”

Dam Ready continued well to the line to finish second in the McKenzie Stakes, while the Ciaron Maher-trained Throssell ran on for third.

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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.