Warren Kennedy will welcome a less taxing riding schedule next season after achieving his ambition of securing the New Zealand Jockeys’ Premiership.
With one more meeting to come at Tauranga on Wednesday, Kennedy secured the title with 139 winners, 17 at Group or Listed level, with his mounts earning just shy of $6 million in 2023/24.
“It’s always been my goal and I am so happy to have achieved it,” he said.
Kennedy won two premierships and an apprentices’ title in his native South Africa and with the New Zealand crown now to his credit, will take on a less punishing schedule in the new season.
“I won’t be taking a prolonged break, just a couple of days here and there through August,” he said.
“It’s been pretty taxing and the body is a bit tired and the mind as well, it’s been a hard season.
“It’s difficult to compare with South Africa, the racecourses are really close to the airports there, so the travel is pretty easy.
“Here, you have to fly and then drive and there are some remote courses, so I’ve spent a lot more time in the car. There won’t be quite as much travel next season, I’ll be more focussed on the carnivals and the Group races.”
Kennedy arrived in New Zealand in October 2022, and was shortly after joined by wife Barbara, who now trains at Byerley Park, and daughters Jamie Lee and Ryleigh.
“It’s been a great season and I’ve had a lot of help along the way, which you need to achieve the goals,” he said.
“A big shout out to everyone and to my family, they are a racing family and know what it takes to win premierships and how demanding it is.
“They have been so supportive of me and that’s also one of the reasons why I won’t be travelling as much, I want to spend more time with the people that helped me along the way.”
Kennedy singled out two days as his highlights of the 2023/24 term.
“Winning seven on New Year’s Day (at Pukekohe) was pretty special and winning the Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m) on Crocetti for Daniel (Nakhle) was also very special,” said Kennedy, with the Byerley Park founder having helped facilitate his move from South Africa, alongside former jockey Donovan Mansour.
Trained by Danny Walker and Aaron Tata, the Nakhle-bred and raced Crocetti enjoyed an outstanding three-year-old campaign with six wins on the bounce, including the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton.
“He will have his first-up run at Ruakaka, but I’ll be at the winter carnival in Christchurch, so I won’t ride him,” Kennedy said.
“I think he will then go straight to the Tarzino Trophy (Gr.1, 1400m) and I’ll hook up with him again there.
“I trialled him the other day and he’s going fantastic. Toward the end of his term last season, he had grown in height but not in width.
“He had got a bit leggy, but he’s filled into his frame and is more confident in his stride and with more purpose, he seems to have improved quite nicely."