Hail Queen Kizen

A decision to buy a trotting mare ten years ago continues to pay dividends for former Southland harness racing trainer Tony Barron and Southland dairy farmer Gordon McKenzie.

After Queen Kenny (Monarchy) ran second at Wyndham on debut in February 2014 for Oamaru trainer Phil Williamson, Barron and McKenzie were able to purchase the royally bred mare who’s out of Nice One Kenny, (Sundon) making her a full sister to One Over Kenny and One Under Kenny.

As a racehorse Queen Kenny won nine races for the pair but it’s been as a broodmare that she’s really excelled.

“I’ve had a lot of nice horses over the years but since I bought Queen Kenny we’ve gone to another level,” Barron said after the mare’s latest foal Queen Kizen (What The Hill) won at Addington last night.

Although Barron hasn’t trained a lot of trotters he says those he’s had have done a good job.

Horses like Galleons Victory (Muscle Mass), Motu Young Jacob (Armbro Invasion), Experiment (Sundon), Appian Way (Sundon) and Shadow Conspiracy (Gee Whiz II).

“The trotters have been very very good to me.”

Queen Kenny’s first foal Queen Elida (Love You) has fashioned a stellar career in Australia winning six Group Ones and $775,050 and she lines up tonight in the $600,000 TAB Trot at Cambridge. She’s owned by McKenzie and members of his family and Tony and Cheryl Barron.

The mare’s second foal Toro Stride (Love You) sold for a record $280,000 at the 2020 NZB Standardbred Sales while Queen Kizen is the mare’s fourth foal.

“She’s the spitting image and everything she’s done is like Queen Elida.”

Queen Kizen wasn’t originally nominated for the race and Barron was going to take her to the trials on Wednesday, when he saw there were only four nominations.

“I text Brian Rabbit to said to put my filly in thinking she’ll just follow them around, get some education and save going to the trials. Well bugger me she comes out and wins.”

In the hands of John Morrison, Queen Kizen showed good gate speed to lead before handing up to Nobilo (Southwind Frank). Once the pair reached the home straight Morrison peeled Queen Kizen to the outside and she let down nicely to beat Nobilo by two and a half lengths.

Barron says there are some nice races for Queen Kizen coming up in Canterbury and at some point she’s likely to head to Australia and follow a similar path to Queen Elida.

“We just have to work through a few things and I might even sell my share because we have the mother, the full sister and Queen Elida. I’ll talk to Boof (Gordon McKenzie) when I’m up there (Cambridge). She loves what she’s doing. She went to the paddock last night bucking and kicking and I’m not going to turn her out. We’ll just keep ticking over. The Breeders Crown is in November when she races fillies. I do want to bring her back for the $110,000 fillies race in December (Ace Of Hearts). The main thing is that I don’t want to run round chasing colts.”

Kizen is a japanese word and translates as “continuous improvement” and that’s what Barron says he’s trying to do with his trotting breed.

Away from last night’s win, all the focus will now be on Cambridge Raceway as McKenzie and Barron and their families watch Queen Elida race for the big money.

“At worst she should be three back on the inside. It’s a great field and if she finishes in the first five I’ll be very happy.”

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink