Kenny Rae will start a new chapter in his training career on Saturday, with his successful term in partnership with daughter Krystal Williams having come to an end.
Rae has been training since the late eighties, accumulating nearly 400 wins, with 132 of those coming since 2016/17 alongside Williams at Ruakaka. The latter more recently moved to her new base out of Burnham in Canterbury, ultimately sparking a desire to go out on her own.
“She’s decided she wants to have a go on her own, she’s been good in partnership but it’s her idea and I support that,” Rae said.
“It’s always been a family operation for me, I wouldn’t mind having my other daughter in with me or Lisa again if they wanted. Even if they aren’t working with the horses, they’re always helping with the kids on the farm or at the races.
“I’ll still have horses of my own down there that she’ll look after for me. I’ve got 25 here and between my six or seven and her own, she’s got about 15 to 18, so we’ve still got plenty to do.
“She will race The Buffer, he’s partly hers as when Richard Bishop passed away he gave him to us. I’m sure he’ll be happy to have her training him, he’ll give her a nice start as you always need one flagbearer going good races.”
The Buffer has been a consistent campaigner for the stable in both islands but has done majority of his racing in the South Island over the past couple of seasons, including wins in the Cromwell Cup (2030m), Ashburton Cup (1600m) and Kumara Gold Nuggets (1810m).
Back at Ruakaka, Rae is aiming for a strong season opener at his home course on Saturday, with eight runners representing the stable including Tide And Time in the Truweld Engineering (1600m).
The daughter of Time Test won the 3YO Winter Championship Final (1600m) stylishly last start, and the form stacked up well in defeating impressive next-up winner Sterling Express.
“I expected her to go well, Kelly Myers came in after she ran behind Dan Vegas and said she needed a mile, she was going really good races without finishing in the first three. She was making up that much ground,” Rae said.
“She’s a lovely filly, it’s up a grade and against the older horses this time but her work has been good.
“We’ll give her one shot and if it doesn’t work out she can have a break. We’ll make use of our home track while there are no expenses for our owners.
“She’s got a handy draw again, so she should be very competitive.”
Speedy mare Illicit Dreams has accepted into the Alibaba’s Flying Carpets Kerikeri Cup (1100m), where she gets in at a light weight (54kg) courtesy of returning stars Crocetti and Master Fay in the mix.
“It’s a very good field, she’s got residual fitness and a light weight which is probably the only chance we have got of beating the two top weights,” Rae said.
Almanzor filly Simsala will commence her career in The Homestead Sports Bar & Bistro (1100m), while Rae also fancies the chances of Richie’s Dream in the Kainui Pack & Cool (1600m).
“I was very happy with her (Simsala) trial, she went from a reasonably dry track at Ruakaka to a heavy at Avondale and she did everything right,” Rae said.
“I think she could go a sneaky race, she’s in her age group and it’s virtually a maiden race taking out the top two. I expect her to go okay, but not winning this time.
“I think Richie’s Dream is a very good chance, she was very unlucky fresh-up not to run in the first three then was third last-start. Her work has been outstanding for her.
“She was owned by Richard Bishop as well, and when he passed he gave me his half share so I got my sisters and brothers in the ownership. I’ll be either hero or zero because I’ve told them all to come to the races to watch.”
Heart Of Alladin and Mischief Managed will both take their place in the 17 August – Cambridge Stud Northland Breeders Stakes (2100m), with Zlatna and Electric Dream completing the team in the Greg Thorpe Blasting & Kerikeri Tile Direct (1300m) and Aotea Electric In Waipapa (1200m) respectively.
“Heart Of Alladin was always going to go over ground, to me it’s a race for him to be competitive in,” Rae said.
“He’s got a reasonable draw, he’s a bit of an enigma but he’s got a two-year-old’s brain in a five-year-old’s body. I think he’ll develop into a really nice stayer eventually."