Having both spent frustrating times on the sidelines, Perth mare Give Me Moneyhoney and apprentice Ben Kennedy teamed up for a strong win at Belmont on Wednesday.
A five-year-old mare by Bletchley Park, Give Me Moneyhoney is back from a serious health ailment and raced clear of her rivals to win the 1000 metre event by a length and a half.
The win was the first for Kennedy at his fourth ride since breaking his wrist ina fall at Pinjarra on June 2.
The younger brother of accomplished Perth jockey Alan Kennedy, Ben is a rider of immense talent and is hoping to spend a sustained period in the saddle without another setback.
“It’s nice to be back and riding a winner so soon,” Kennedy said. “I’m feeling good and hopefully the wins will continue now.”
Give Me Moneyhoney, a $115,000 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale graduate, is now a three time winner (and four time placegetter) from just 14 runs.
Purchased from the draft of Ellie Giles’ Korilya Stud at the 2008 Belmont Park based auction, Give Me Moneyhoney is trained by Matt Daqui.
“She (Give Me Moneyhoney) had Ross River Virus and it was very hard to knock on the head – it has take a long time to get her right,” Daqui reported.
“She’s getting better – but I still don’t think she’s right back yet.”
“Two starts back she went well and last start she drew wide and did a little bit of work.”
“I was just waiting for her to draw a decent barrier. I’d scratched her twice recently – to find a race where she wouldn’t have to do too much work from a wide gate,” Daqui added.
Give Me Moneyhoney is one of three winners produced by the once raced Lomond Bay mare Blazing Honey.
Blazing Honey is a full sister to the group winner Country Blazer and half sister to Malaysian stakes winner South of France III.
Another of her half sisters, the winner Honey Petique is the dam of the five time stakes winner Beau Heed.
Give Me Moneyhoney is just the latest metropolitan winner for Korilya Stud – one of the country’s most successful winner-producing farms.
Operated by Ellie Giles, Korilya is located just north of Busselton and the farm will be represented by another quality draft of yearlings at next year’s Perth Yearling Sale.
