SPREYTON trainer Darrin Kenny knows what it’s like to win a feature race having been successful in the 2009 Devonport Cup with his old faithful gelding Pindari Prince.
At The TOTE Racing Centre in Launceston tonight Kenny will be hoping his smart two-year-old Kenjorwood can make it two from three in feature juvenile races when he takes on a handy field in the Tasmanian Magic Millions 2YO Classic over 1200m.
Kenjorwood was impressive in winning the $30,000 Alfa Bowl in Launceston on debut in late November, after which Kenny sent him for a short spell.
He resumed in the $100,000 Elwick Stakes in Hobart 10 days ago and ran on late to finish fifth of 10 behind the Danny O’Brien-trained Bush Aviator that is likely to head to the Blue Diamond.
Kenjorwood settles last in the Elwick Stakes and was still near the rear when the field turned for home.
The gelded son of Snippetson will have benefitted from the Elwick Stakes outing and should make his presence felt at the business end of proceedings tonight.
The race boasts three interstate invaders, Bunchlock, Melike and Tiger’s Cub all of which are trained in Victoria.
Tiger’s Cub is owned in part by prominent Tasmanian breeder Alwyn Shaw of Aceland Stud. The colt is trained at Caulfield by Jim Mason who trialed the youngster at Cranbourne last week in which he finished second.
Craig Newitt rode him in the trial and afterwards told connections the gelding could be up to Melbourne metropolitan class.
But connections were keen to have him start his racing career in Tasmania.
Dan O’Sullivan prepares Melike (Helike-Parterre) that goes into the race on the back of one trial at Casterton in which he finished eighth of 10 but that was back in November.
Bunchloch (West Quest-Coming At You) debuted at Seymour for a fourth of seven but he found early trouble and recovered to finish only two lengths from the winner.
Western Hero is the best-performed and most experienced of the nine runners with two wins and as many minor placings from his four starts.
The Terry Evans-trained gelded son of Wet Quest-Horkins Nancy was a game third to Bush Aviator in the Elwick Stakes and should have derived benefit from that outing.