Ciaron Maher & David Eustace continued an outstanding Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival in the last on Queensland Oaks Day with their Doomben Cup winning mare Kenedna saluting as race favourite in the Group 2 $400,000 P.J. O’Shea Stakes (2200m).

Kenedna (pictured at Flemington) took out the P.J. O’Shea Stakes ahead of a big spring campaign back in Melbourne. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

Finishing-up an excellent day’s racing at Doomben Racecourse, there was plenty of merit to the P.J. O’Shea Stakes victory by the five-year-old daughter of Not A Single Doubt who overcame a wide run throughout.

Winner of Randwick’s Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) back in mid-April, Kenedna also enjoyed a last start Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) win on May 18 with John Allen in the saddle.

“Unbelievable, she was fired up today,” Allen said post-win.

“She gives her all every time.

“She always gives herself every chance…you just know she’ll be there for you when you want.

“She’s been an unbelievable filly for me.”

Kenedna became the second horse to win the Doomben Cup – P.J. O’Shea Stakes double since Scenic Shot in 2009.

Allen travelled midfield throughout aboard the $3.80 favourite in the P.J. O’Shea Stakes taking his time aboard Kenedna.

Halfway through the race, jockey Robbie Fradd pressed forward aboard the Chris Waller-trained Camelot filly Re Edit who took up the lead having opted to take on the older horses at WFA over a run in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) earlier on the card.

At the top of the straight Kenedna had moved up into fourth position and from there was simply too strong, running down Re Edit and holding off the late challenge by Sixties Groove down the outside.

In the end the P.J. O’Shea Stakes winner Kenedna had one and a half lengths to spare on the line over the Kris Lees-trained equal favourite Sixties Groove ($3.80), who came off a third behind the mare in the Doomben Cup.

Re Edit ($31) held to round out the trifecta in a brave third, proving she could possibly have challenged the upset Queensland Oaks champion Winning Ways had she run in that race.

There will be no Brisbane Cup next-up for Kenedna, connections instead sending her out for a break before returning for the spring with features including the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) and Australasia’s weight-for-age championship – the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley – possible targets.

“She loves a bit of sun on her back, she’s in great order, great job,” co-trainer Maher said after the victory.

“Jonny Allen’s flying and yeah, Doomben, I love coming here.

“We’ll target something in the spring and get her ready for that.

“Maybe a Cox plate, maybe a Caulfield Cup, we’ll just let the dust settle, give her a bit of time in the sun here and get her back down there [to Melbourne] when it warms up a bit.”

Kenedna is currently listed as a $21 chance in early Caulfield Cup 2019 betting at Ladbrokes.com.au for the October feature, while current all-in odds on the 2019 Ladbrokes Cox Plate have her at $51.

To back Kenedna over the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival at the hottest prices, visit Ladbrokes.com.au now.

2019 PJ O’Shea Stakes Results & Finishing Order

Doomben Race 9 – 01/06/2019