Written by Paul Vettise
Lloyd Kennewell and a loyal band of owners have enjoyed a Group 1-winning season with a daughter of I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit {IRE}) and the crack Yarraman Park Stud stallion also got them away to a flying 2019 with an exciting 2-year-old at Flemington.
The G1 Moir S. winner Viddora has done the team proud and youthful stablemate Jedastar began her career in dazzling style with success at the first time of asking in Tuesday’s New Year Plate.
The filly didn’t need the benefit of any official trials to have her on song as she jumped to the front and never looked like having her colours lowered, winning by two-and-a-quarter lengths in a speedy 57.76 seconds.
“She’s showed us that speed from day one and she’s been unbeaten in jump-outs at Caulfield,” Kennewell said.
“She’s showed us that speed from day one and she’s been unbeaten in jump-outs at Caulfield.” - Lloyd Kennewell
Jedastar taking out the first race at Flemington for 2019
Blue Diamond hopeful
His pre-race instructions to Joe Bowditch were clear and concise and they were perfectly executed by the jockey.
“I said to Joe (Bowditch) to get to the rail, that’s the best asset for a 2-year-old,” Kennewell said.
“She won’t be going to the Magic Millions. We’ll give her a freshen up and then get her ready for the Blue Diamond Prelude, I think she’ll be even better around a bend.
“We’ll give her a freshen up and then get her ready for the Blue Diamond Prelude, I think she’ll be even better around a bend.” - Lloyd Kennewell.
“We were very confident with her and 200 metres out I knew we were home.”
Magical timing for sibling
Kennewell Racing went to $250,000 to secure Jedastar out of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale – the second-highest price of Book 2 – and a number of the owners of Viddora joined the syndicate.
Jedastar as a yearling
Also among them is Harry Mitchell, Director of Yarraman Park and the Scone residency of I Am Invincible.
Jedastar’s debut showing was a timely one for Mitchell’s operation as they will be offering her brother, Lot 518, at the upcoming Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
“I would say he (Lot 518) is as good a physical type as this filly was as a yearling.” - Harry Mitchell
“He is an average-sized colt and very athletic,” Mitchell said. “I would say he is as good a physical type as this filly was as a yearling.
“Their dam Devoirs isn't a big mare herself, but they're athletic types. She is in foal to Hellbent, so will leave a close relation to this filly.”
Lot 518: I Am Invincible x Devoirs colt from Yarraman Park
Devoirs (Dehere {USA}) was a smart race mare who won twice at Listed level and is a daughter of the Group 1 performer Velasco (Flying Spur). She has also produced the G3 WATC Sires’ Produce S. winner Debellatio (Smart Missile).
Viddora team reunited
Jedastar’s rider found the Flemington victory a particularly satisfying one.
“It’s great to have the old team back together with the Viddora people who stuck solid with this filly.” – Joe Bowditch
“It’s great to have the old team back together with the Viddora people who stuck solid with this filly,” Bowditch said.
“She’s got good natural speed so we wanted to keep it simple. In her jump-outs she went really quickly and finished off well and she’d done that again.
“She surprised me a bit because she can be a bit headstrong at home and we’ve been trying to get her to settle down and it’s working.”
Million-dollar Deep Impact on debut
Jedastar’s win came at the expense of the Tony McEvoy-trained Enood (Deep Impact {JPN}). She is raced by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum and the half-sister to the former champion sprinter Lankan Rupee (Redoute’s Choice) was a $1 million Inglis Easter Yearling Sale purchase.
“She presented really well, but was a little bit slow out of the gates,” the trainer’s son Calvin said.
“She’s by Deep Impact so there’s a lot more to come. She cost a lot of money and we bought her as a 1000 Guineas or maybe an Oaks filly.”
Enood as a yearling
