Dual Group 1 winner Kenedna is set to kick off her 2019 Caulfield Cup campaign in Saturday’s Group 2 $200,000 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.

Kenedna, above, will kick off her 2019 Caulfield Cup campaign in the P.B. Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Jenny Barnes.

Kenedna, above, will kick off her 2019 Caulfield Cup campaign in the P.B. Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Jenny Barnes.

Kenedna claimed her first Group 1 trophy with a win in the $1m Coolmore Legacy Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Day Two of The Championships on April 13 and then two starts later was in the Group 1 winner’s stall again with a victory in the $700,000 Doomben Cup (2000m) at Doomben during the 2019 Brisbane Winter Carnival.

Co-trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace gave Kenedna one more Brisbane Winter Carnival run for a win in the Group 2 $400,000 Bundaberg Rum P.J. O’Shea Stakes (2200m) at Doomben on June 1 before giving the mare a well deserved break.

“I think she had about three weeks out and she carried a lot of residual fitness through,” Maher told AAP.

“She’s going well.”

“She will probably want the run first-up but she seems in good order and she just seems to keep improving.”

Kenedna’s Caulfiled Cup lead-up runs could include the Group 2 $250,000 John F. Feehan Stakes (1600m) at The Valley on September 7, the Group 1 $750,000 Hyland Race Colours Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on September 29 and the Group 1 $1m Ladbrokes Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on October 12.

Early betting at Ladbrokes.com.au for the Group 1 $5.15m Stella Artois Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield on October 19 has Kenedna marked at $21 with the James Cummings trained Avilius heading the market order at $11.

Pre-post betting for the 2019 Caulfield Cup at Ladbrokes.com.au: $11 Avilius, $13 Verry Elleegant, $17 Cross Counter, Django Freeman, Latrobe, $19 Mr Quickie, $21 Fifty Stars, Kenedna, Yucatan, Raheen House, Mirage Dancer, Old Persian, $26 Almond Eye, Angel Of Truth, Ghostwatch, Glory Vase, Ispolini, Marmelo, $31 Best Of Days, Chapada, Danceteria, Danzdanzdance, Dubhe, Finche, Flag Of Honour, Homesman, Neufbisc, Sixties Groove, Rostropovich, $34 or better the rest.

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.