Kennedy looking forward to taking on training challenge
Warren Kennedy has made waves in the New Zealand jockey ranks since moving from his native South Africa, and now his wife, Barbara, is hoping to do the same as a trainer. The 32-year-old horsewoman has spent her life in racing and trained in South Africa for a few seasons before moving to New Zealand with her husband and children a couple of years ago.
While Warren has been kicking goals in the saddle, Kennedy said she felt a bit lost in the early stages of their move to New Zealand, but found comfort in helping out Byerley Park trainers Peter and Dawn Williams.
With Williamses deciding to retire from racing at the end of the month, they approached Kennedy to see if she was interested in taking over their stable, and she has jumped at the opportunity.
“Since we moved to New Zealand, they [Williams’s] had always been very good to Warren, and Warren has ridden a lot for them. They extended to come out to the yard with the girls and I did mornings there mucking out stables and we have become really close with Peter and Dawn, we have adopted them as our family here.”
“We have become really close and we were chatting recently, and with this decision of them retiring, they thought I was young, willing to do it, so let’s give this a shot.
“It is exciting. It has happened quite quickly, but we are taking this opportunity with both hands. I am grateful that Peter and Dawn have trusted me enough to hand everything over to me, so we will be forever grateful for that.
“I officially start on the 1st of June. For the month of June, they will be around and I can bounce as many questions off of them as possible.
“The majority of the clients have agreed to stay on with me, which is really positive. We will be getting in contact with all the clients during the next week or so and get to know everyone and get our career and relationship going.”
One horse Barbara Kennedy will not have under her tutelage is Group 1 winner Desert Lightning (Pride Of Dubai), who is set for a move to Australia and is expected to join the Melbourne stable of Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman.