Latest news with #KentJr
News.com.au
29-04-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Gear change to help Hedged settle in Wangoom Handicap at Warrnambool
A little relaxation could propel Hedged back to the winner's circle in Wednesday's Wangoom Handicap (1200m) at Warrnambool. The well-travelled Hedged has raced in three states and built a solid record but will chase his first stakes win in the race known as 'the Newmarket of the Bush'. Hedged went within a half-length of breaking through when third in the Listed Hareeba Stakes at Mornington at his last outing. But co-trainer Michael Kent Jr said Hedged didn't have much luck while not helping his own cause in that race. 'He ran quite well at Mornington on what was probably a firm track and he got posted three-wide from the half-mille,' Kent Jr, who trains Hedged in partnership with Mick Price, said. 'We did apply the black (ear) muffs at The Valley two runs back and they came off again at Mornington. 'It was going to be beautiful but the pace slackened and he just got keen again so Ben (Melham) got him out wide and flowing. 'He wasn't beaten far without having the most economical run.' • Jenni marks Caulfield Anniversary ahead of Qld mission Price and Kent Jr have decided to add a crossover nose band to Hedged's gear in the Wangoom Handicap. The pair also believes a shorter period between runs might ease Hedged's tendency to overrace. Well Done! ðŸ'� Jett Stanley has just won the Hareeba Stakes with The Instructor on the last day of his apprenticeship! @GaiWaterhouse1 @stanley_jett — 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) April 19, 2025 'We just need to get him back travelling a bit more quietly in the run,' Kent Jr said. 'We're hoping that on the 10-day back-up, he might drop his head a bit better.' While Hedged has not won at stakes level, Kent Jr noted the son of Capitalist had performed well in some good races in his 16-start career. 'At this time last year, he got beat a nostril behind Joliestar in the Group 2 Arrowfield (Stud Stakes at Randwick),' Kent Jr said. 'He's got really good form all around him and if we get, which we'd expect at Warrnambool as they keep it well watered for the jumpers, then he's going to run well. 'He'll like the bit of give in the ground and, class-wise, he's suited in a Wangoom.' Ben Melham will stick with Hedged in the Wangoom Handicap. The Instructor ($5) and last-start Bendigo winner Marble Nine. Jamie Melham's mount, the Lloyd Kennewell and Lucy Yeomans-trained Fortunate Kiss, has firmed from $15 into $10 in the first 24 hours' betting on the feature sprint.
News.com.au
25-04-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
All Pink to show her true colours at The Valley
Trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr wouldn't want a repeat of All Pink's last outing at The Valley on Saturday. The result was not the issue. All Pink bolted in when resuming at Terang on April 13. All Pink's behaviour before the race was the problem. It left the trainers wondering whether weeks of work preparing the filly to resume would be in vain. All Pink had four jumpouts to prepare her for her racetrack return but the two-year-old still had a trick in the bag for race day. 'Mick and I thought she was $1.01 to be scratched because she got her leg up in the gates and was in there for a long time,' Kent Jr said. 'They took about two minutes to unload her but miraculously they got her back in. 'Thank God they did because she rode a hot speed and won by 4.75 lengths. 'To have that go wrong, ride a hot speed and win by 4.75 lengths, it was a good effort.' Kent Jr said the stable was delighted with All Pink's progress since her Terang run. 'We couldn't be happier with our girl and I thought she was really tough on debut,' Kent Jr said. 'It looks a nice opportunity for her but they don't give away two-year-old races in town. However, Kent noted All Pink faced a tricky assignment in the Evergreen Turf Handicap (1000m) at The Valley. Scratchings have left a field of four to race for $150,000 in prizemoney but Kent Jr said each of All Pink's rivals presented a challenge for his charge. 'I think Saluted is very smart. I've seen her trial a number of times at Cranbourne and she's very sharp,' Kent Jr said. 'She will be suited coming back to 1000m and I know they do fancy Ciaron's debutant Tetsu Belle. 'She'll be the one sitting off and chiming in late and Alzaro has trialled well.' All Pink is the $2.40 favourite in the revamped market on the race following the scratchings. Saluted is at $2.80 ahead of the Maher-trained pair Tetsu Belle and Alzaro at $3.80 and $8.50 respectively.
News.com.au
25-04-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Promising import Saganti has some obstacles to overcome at Randwick for first Australian win
Trainer Michael Kent Jr believes Saganti will have the class edge on his rivals this Saturday but concedes external factors could prove to be the promising import's undoing at Royal Randwick. Saganti is hunting his maiden Australian victory in his second preparation in the Southern Hemisphere in the Tom Bingle Benchmark 94 Handicap (1800m). Kent Jr, who trains alongside Mick Price, has seen enough in two starts for the stable to know they have a nice horse on their hands with Saganti going close to breaking through last start in a close third over the mile at Hawkesbury. The son of Zarak is a $3.40 chance to score a second-up win with champion jockey James McDonald in the saddle. 'I think the horse has got the most class in the race but he is still looking for further and he is only second-up, drawn nine of nine,' Kent Jr said. 'If he isn't quick to begin on Saturday and settles back, the leading pair may control and dictate and if that's the case it could prove to be a hard for him to overcome. 'In his favour he has class on his side, he loves soft ground and the rise in trip, fitter for the run … we will leave it up to J-Mac.' • Ray and Duff's Randwick tips: Best bet 'jumps out at me' Price and Kent Jr have tinkered with the gear and added an off side bubble cheeker and lugging bit to help the gelding 'run true'. A trip to the Brisbane winter carnival could be on the table for Saganti, a Group 3 placegetter in France, with a good performance in Sydney. Price and Kent Jr have a plan to target the Group 3 Chairman's Handicap (2000m) on Doomben 10,000 day in Queensland on May 17. 'The initial target is that race and we will be guided from there whether we go up in trip or stay around 2000m,' Kent Jr said. 'It is only his first real prep in Australia so we are still working him out but I am sure he will run really well on Saturday it's just a matter of if the race shape sets him up to win.' Sakti is another Price and Kent Jr runner that the stable know is genuine stakes quality. The Irish-bred import has already proven as much with several occasions in Ireland, winning in Listed grade and places on four occasions in stakes company. She made her Australian debut with a sixth in the Group 2 Emancipation Stakes and drops back in grade in the Precise Air Benchmark 100 Handicap (1500m). 'I like her. She is a quality consistent stakes-class miler,' Kent Jr said. 'We were very surprised at her first Australian run that she put her head in the clouds and had her mouth open because she is lazy at home. 'We have reapplied the shadow roll which she wore overseas and added a crossover noseband. 'If she gets the first half of the race right I think she will run really well.' Three hit the line with the outside prevailing! ðŸ'¸ State Of America gets up for @dpayneracing with @ZacLloydx on board! — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 9, 2025 Sakti could earn a crack at the $500,000 The Coast (1600m) if she perform up to expectations. Stablemate Poppin' Champagne ($14) starved off retirement to the breeding barn with a terrific second-up victory at Warwick Farm last start. She can score back-to-back wins for the first time in her career in the TAB Benchmark 78 Handicap (1600m). 'She is really in the zone this mare,' Kent Jr said. 'She was a pretty cankerous mare and would waste a heap of energy mid-race going to the barriers but our Sydney team have done a wonderful job with her to the point where Tommy Berry called me after the races and said she was a kids pony. 'I think she must have heard the rumours that she was potentially getting sold at the Mares sale because she arguably put in a career best performance and has 12 months more in the barn.'
