Kerr claims Cup in outstanding training feat

Mildura harness racing trainer Naomi Kerr has border-hopped to claim the 2024 Pirate Life Brewing and CUB Kapunda Pacing Cup with an injury plagued Group One winning pacer having his first race start for 18 months.

Six-year-old stallion Idyllic (Somebeachsomewhere) was sent straight to the head of affairs by Victorian Western District-based driver Lochie Cook in yesterday’s (Oct 6) $12,000 feature event and defied some late challengers to post a super-impressive victory.

“I’ve only had him for three or four weeks, but he arrived from Emma (Stewart) and Clayton (Tonkin) in tremendous condition. I’m just stoked to have a horse of this calibre and I’m so grateful for the opportunity,” Kerr said.

“He was probably about 70 percent in his fitness when I got him, and I think there’s more improvement to come yet,” she said.

Idyllic suffered a fracture to a hind pastern following his Group One Gold Chalice victory at Bathurst in March of 2021. The injury required surgery, and screws were inserted in the leg.

In an interview with HRV’s Tim O’Connor, managing owner Sue Murray said a long and difficult journey followed before the horse returned to the races after nearly 19 months off the scene.

“He was boxed for eight to 10 weeks and hated it. He’s very spirited and wanted to bite people because he got really cranky. He later was moved into a small enclosure and then over time, went out into a paddock,” she said.

“His long rehab included the water walker and treadmill up with Emma and Clayton at Ballarat.”

Connections were thrilled to see Idyllic back at the races in October of 2022.  He won three races at Melton from his first six starts back, and last raced for a second in the Echuca Pacing Cup behind Pas Guarantee (Guaranteed) on March 24 last year.

But another pastern injury to the opposite hind leg saw Idyllic again undergo surgery and more rehab before being sent north to the Kerr stable.

“There’s no problems with his soundness and while we don’t give him any special work, we certainly do look after him,” Kerr said.

“I’ve been really happy with him.  He trialed at Mildura last week and he went pretty good, with the main thing being to see how he handled the 800m track before the Kapunda trip,” she said.

“I’ve been using Lochie (Cook) regularly as a driver for a bit now, and he drove all the way over from Terang to take the drive which was great.”

The mile rate for the longer trip of 2610m was a solid 2.00-1, with a slick last half of 56-9. Idyllic won by a metre from Lord Zarias and Artillery a close-up third.  The victory brought Idyllic’s career record to 12 wins and 11 placings from 30 starts, for over $220,000 in stakes.

Kerr said she was excited to now be an automatic qualifier for the SA Pacing Cup Final in just under three weeks.

The Group Three feature event, carrying stakemoney of $60,000, will be run at Adelaide’s Globe Derby Park on Saturday, October 26.

“It will give me time to build up his fitness levels at home and the race comes at a nice time as Mildura has a mini break around then,” she said.

“He’s such a gentleman to have around the stables. Despite still being a stallion, he’s not bully one bit. He’s owned by a big syndicate, and I’ll keep trying to place him well for them. I’ve also got Prioritise (a winner three of his past six starts) with the same ownership group,” Kerr said.

“I’ve got about 30 to 35 on the books at the moment, but I shuffle them about and put some out to freshen them up. It’s hard work, but I’m loving it.”

Kerr has now trained 70 winners for the season – easily her best with 29 last season and 28 in 2022.

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink