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Hawkesbury News : 12th August 2020

3 minute read

Hawkesbury husband and wife training partners Mitchell and Desiree Kearney’s metropolitan breakthrough at Warwick Farm today could not have been more fitting.

Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images

The couple's $31 winner Heza Gentleman is the first foal of the Hard Spun mare Silk Spun, who provided Mitch Kearney with his first winner, when training on his own, on his home track in July, 2014.

Kearney had been training for little more than 12 months, and Silk Spun  was the only horse in his stable at the time.

Heza Gentleman's only previous win was in a non-TAB Maiden at Mudgee last October, but he has been placed four times on country and provincial tracks.

Adding to today's great result was the fact that family (including Mitch's brother Shane, who was the gelding's strapper) and friends who raced Silk Spun also race Heza Gentleman.

Whilst Mitch Kearney was on course to greet winning rider, apprentice Cejay Graham, when she returned to the enclosure on Heza Gentleman, unfortunately Desiree Kearney couldn't be trackside to share in the couple's inaugural city success.

"Desi was on the school run picking up the kids," Mitch Kearney explained this evening.

Kearney didn't give Graham specific instructions, other than to tell her not to panic if the horse got back in the small field of six.

But the talented young rider skilfully rode to the pattern of the day, taking the four-year-old to the front and setting the pace on the inside rail – and he never looked likely to be beaten.

Heza Gentleman beat Lubuk ($7) by more than two lengths, with $1.50 favorite Kingsheir, who was closest to the winner on the home turn, in third place after not being able to pick up on the heavy ground.

"Cejay rode Heza Gentleman brilliantly; I was very happy with her," Kearney said.

"We have always felt this horse had his share of ability, but it has taken him 16 runs to put it all together.

"Hopefully, he can go on with it now."

Ironically, Silk Spun's sole victory was on a Firm 2 surface, but Kearney was confident his gelding could cope with the Heavy 9 surface today.

"He has worked okay at home in the wet, and we thought he would run well today," Kearney said.

"We were a bit non-plussed when he got back at Wyong at his previous run (on July 31) as he usually goes forward.

"But he came home well to finish third, and his work since has been good."

Heza Gentleman's victory also was timely as Team Kearney has been winless since Magic Talent scored at the Gosford picnic meeting on December 14 last year; the last of their five winners last season.

"The horses have been racing well enough without winning," Kearney said. "We have had numerous placings since Magic Talent scored, so let's hope our luck has taken a turn for the better."

. The Kearneys moved to a larger stable at Hawkesbury last year, and have 20 horses in work.

That number includes Heza Gentleman's so far unraced younger half-sister Suzie's Comet, a three-year-old Dane Shadow filly.

"She is about three weeks away from barrier trialling," Mitch Kearney said.


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