Young South Australian horseman Lloyd Kennewell has named Sydney’s 2018 The Everest this spring as the “ultimate goal” for his impressive Magic Millions Sprint winning mare Viddora.
Viddora backed-up from a Winterbottom Stakes win to take out the Gold Coast’s Magic Millions Sprint 2018 ahead of a likely The Everest bid this spring. Photo: Jenny Barnes.
The progressive I Am Invincible five-year-old from Morphettville showed no ill-effects after a length campaign full of interstate trips when dominating her rivals in Saturday’s $1 million Magic Millions Snippets (1200m) at the Gold Coast.
Viddora saluted as the $2.50 favourite for the punters, beating the Kelso Wood-trained Snitzel colt Snitzkraft ($11) home by over two lengths, while the class Bjorn Baker-trained mare Egyptian Symbol ($2.90) ran a close third.
Giving the weight away to the field with 59kg on her back, Viddora took her career earnings up over $2 million after successfully backing-up from her Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) win in Perth on December 2.
“She beat them like she was the best mare in Australia,” Kennewell told AAP post-win on Saturday.
“Even though she didn’t have the best run in the race she pulled their pants down in the straight and was just too good for them.
“She didn’t have the best of runs and got sprayed on the turn and not many have come from as back as her but she showed a devastating turn of foot with the 59kg.
“She’s been well managed and she’s just a bloody good horse it’s as simple as that.”
Up since her Adelaide Autumn Racing Carnival campaign back in May last year, Viddora had previously travelled to Melbourne for two brave Group 1 runs at The Valley before her W.A. success and that at the Gold Coast in Queensland.
A trip overseas is being considered by Kennewell for his stable star, but he itted that securing a slot in Australia’s richest race on October 13 at Royal Randwick in the weight-for-age The Everest (1200m) was his main pursuit.
“We’ve got a lot of options with her but ultimately we want to get to The Everest with her,” Kennewell said.
“We’ve been invited overseas as well and back home in Adelaide there are two Group 1 races worth a million dollars so I’ll send her to the paddock for 10 days and work out a plan.”
Those Adelaide Group 1s are The Goodwood (1200m) and the Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) both run at Morphettville in May.
Viddora contested the latter last year running second to Secret Agenda in her Group 1 debut, but may by the events and be kept fresh for The Everest should she make the Restricted line-up.
“She won’t have many runs between now and The Everest. That’s how she races and she loves it. As long as the picket fence keeps happening we’ll be happy,” Kennewell explained.
Futures The Everest odds at Ladbrokes.com.au list the defending Peter & Paul Snowden-trained champion Redzel as the $8 favourite.
Viddora meanwhile is listed as a generous $21 shot in the all-in The Everest betting markets.
To back Viddora next race and over her 2018 campaign at the best Australian racing odds head to Ladbrokes.com.au today.
