Jaylah Kennedy continued her superb run with Tony and Calvin McEvoy at Sandown on Wednesday, making it seven wins from 23 starts for the stable aboard Heart Of Glass and Scissor Step.
The Kiwi apprentice has made waves since joining the riding ranks early last year, already reaching 71 overall winners, with 12 of them at metropolitan level.
Her winning strike-rate sits at 30 per cent when teaming up with the McEvoys (57 per cent placing), and Wednesday’s triumphs were prime examples of why she consistently gets rides from the highly successful Ballarat operation.
Heart Of Glass ($3.80) sat smack-bang in the middle of the seven-horse field on turning and looked as though she wouldn’t get a crack at them, with Stokke ($4.20) keeping the gap to her outside firmly closed.
But Kennedy didn’t panic, holding the same course and showing full faith in her horse’s sprint once the opening came at the furlong pole.
It took a few strides to get into her work, but Heart Of Glass soon began to close and claimed the lead in the shadows of the post, holding off Written Bligh ($10) on the rails for another impressive victory.
The daughter of Impending has now won three of four career starts and Kennedy said there is plenty more under the hood, especially once she matures.
“It was a really good thing we got held up down the straight, because it felt like I had a lapful of horse underneath me, but she just stargazed when she hit the front,” Kennedy said.
“She’s got plenty in store… she’s still very green, but she’ll take plenty from that.”
The ride aboard Scissor Step was similarly impressive, with Kennedy refusing to sit on the rails, and doing everything she could get to get her mount into clear air before the turn.
With favourite Rain Lord ($4.20) struggling to make ground, Scissor Step strode clear for a comfortable victory, marking another winner for the fruitful combination.
The 23-year-old, who claims 3kg in the city, was delighted to continue her good form with the father-and-son training duo, though typically humble when describing it.
“I’m very thankful to the McEvoy team, they’ve put me on some really nice horses. We’ve got a really good connection together,” she said.
“They’re placing their horses really well and utilising the three-kilos, I’m happy to be getting the results for them.”
She expects to lose the ride aboard Heart Of Glass back to regular rider Harry Coffey next time, but would happily accept if she got another chance on the exciting filly.
“I hadn’t had a sit on her (Heart Of Glass) until today, so, big thanks to Harry, I’ve kept the saddle warm for him, and I’m sure he’ll be back on her soon enough,” she said.
“I’ll give him a wrestle for it.”
