Kennards hit 700

When Ocean Eyes (Father Patrick) won at Alexandra Park on the 23^rd May in the hands of Zachary Butcher, she brought Glenys and Phil Kennard’s wins tally to 700.

Their first was Idle Bromac at Ashburton in May 1987 trained and driven by Robert Dunn. The Kennards were then part of the Blue Blood No 3 Syndicate which raced the El Patron gelding.

On their own or in a variety of ownership groups and syndicates, the couples have won a massive 61 Group One races. The first was at Addington in May 2007 when Fiery Falcon won the Garrard’s Sires’ Stakes Two Year Old Final in the hands of Colin DeFilippi.

Over the thirty eight plus years they’ve raced horses, Mark Purdon has driven 152 winners for them and Natalie Rasmussen at 118, Blair Orange at 73 and Tim Williams at 54 have driven their share as well.

On his own or in partnership, Mark Purdon has trained 383 winners for the Kennards.

Glenys and Phil have shared in the ownership of three New Zealand Cup winners in consecutive years – Lazarus in 2016 and 2017 and Thefixer in 2018.

Their list of other winners include Highview Tommy, Captain Peacock, Smolda, Border Control, Fly Like An Eagle, Ultimate Sniper, Ultimate Machete, Isaiah, Spankem, South Coast Arden, Double Twist, Linda Lovegrace, and Better Twist.

The winning doesn’t look like stopping either with their two latest stars Marketplace, Mo’unga and Bet N Win targeting some big races in the next six months.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink