Kennedy Hits The Ground Running With a Big Week of Winners

Newly arrived jockey Ben Kennedy wants to let his riding do the talking as he mounts a fresh bid to resurrect his career.

The ex-WA jockey, once a leading apprentice in Perth, relocated from Victoria to Townsville earlier this month as the next step in long battle back from four years on the sidelines.

Kennedy announced his arrival loud and clear at Cluden Park on Sunday with a winning treble for his new boss Tom Button.

The duo ran hot, landing the first three races with Heart Of Vienna, Esprit Lad and Russian Mint.

Kennedy’s hat-trick of wins followed a winning double at Home Hill on Saturday and a winner at Bowen last Sunday, capping a dream start to his northern venture.

“I’ve got great people around me here with Tommy and the team. They’ve welcomed me with open arms and to repay them today is very rewarding,” Kennedy said.

“It helps when you’ve got the horses underneath you.”

The 33-year-old made the decision to come north with his partner Samantha Zoljen who is also trying to make her way back into the saddle from challenges of a head kick.

“I’ve got my partner to thank for coming here. She was doing a bit of liaising on line and saw the opportunity. We made the plan to come up here. Samantha’s aiming to get her apprenticeship back and we’ll see what we can make of it.

“I started out in WA originally and spent the last 18 months in Victoria.

“I did nearly four years on the sidelines through being a bit of a rogue when I was younger. I kicked things off again riding trackwork in Victoria with Philip Stokes and thought the way I was progressing I should give this race riding another crack. I thought I had more to give still.

“It helped me get started again but it was time to take the next step and move away from Victoria for a bit and try and build a bit of momentum.

“I was race riding down there for about six months but it’s very hard - you’re riding against the best in the country. I was a bit starved for opportunities but it was great to get my eye back in.

“I like Townsville. It’s a little bit more laid back and more my vibe and everyone is warm and inviting.

“We did Bowen last week, Home Hill yesterday, here today and it looks like Oak Park next week. I’m not afraid to jump in the car and do a bit of travelling and rack the miles up.

Winners will keep you motivated.

You go to the races and ride the first three - you’ll take that every day of the week.

“The phone might be ringing this week.”

Meanwhile, Going Nuclear secured a guaranteed start in the Ladbrokes Townsville Cup in August after crushing his rivals with a last-to-first win in the Ladbrokes Magnetic Island Mile (1609m).

Trainer Matt McGuire praised Going Nuclear’s regular rider apprentice Olivia Kendal who has now won six races on the gelding.

“It was a tough win and a superb ride by Olivia. In the past when she’s been beaten on the horse she’s been hard on herself for not being patient but today she was the most patient rider in the race and he flew for her.

“She deserves a lot of kudos for the win.”

McGuire is now eyeing off the HL Black Memorial over 1800m in Mackay on July 17 as a final lead-up to the Townsville Cup on August 8.

“That win helps make our decision. We’ll head towards the cup now. We’ll have a plan in place on how to get there. It’s obviously still a little way off.

“With the programming in Townsville it makes it difficult to get a horse like him into the race from here but with a bit of travelling we’ll find a way to get there.

“The HL Black works in perfectly for us as a lead-up to the Cup here.

“I think there’s still a little bit more to come. I thought he was dominant last start but the way he won today from so far back gives us a bit more confidence going up to the 2000m of the Cup.”