Local favourite Kenning eyes Townsville Cup prize

By Glenn Davis

It was almost three decades ago when Townsville’s Bill Kenning won the Townsville Cup as a jockey and now he wants to repeat the feat as a trainer.

The 69-year-old Kenning was a popular rider in North Queensland when he claimed the Townsville Cup on Only Chance, who was trained by his partner Julie Bell in 1997.

Kenning has tried to win the Townsville Cup as a trainer ever since, but is yet to succeed. 

He isn’t giving up and hopes stablemates Beau Rain and Free Carry will get the opportunity to win the 2000 metre feature.

Beau Rain and Free Carry will continue their campaigns towards the $150,000 Townsville Cup on August 8 when they clash in the Magnetic Island Mile over 1609 metres at Cluden Park on Sunday.

Beau Rain will be seeking redemption in the Magnetic Island Mile after being nosed out in last year’s race by the Georgie Holt-trained Tambo’s Justice.

He later went on to finish 13th in the Townsville Cup, which was won by Toowoomba stayer Quothquan.

“He didn’t have much luck in last year’s Cup after drawing badly,” Kenning said.

“But, all going well he’ll line up again.”

The five-year-old Beau Rain is lucky to be racing after a fall as a two-year-old.

Beau Rain and another horse crashed to the turf at Mackay in February of 2023.

"Thankfully he’s over all that now," the trainer said. 

Beau Rain finished sixth, beaten just over three lengths, behind the Jeffrey Caught-trained Central Park in a 1400 metre Open Handicap in Townsville on May 31.

“He’s not going as good as he was a few years ago, but if he finds his old form, he’s a big chance on Sunday,” Kenning said.

Kenning also is hopeful Free Carry can confirm plans to head to the Townsville Cup.

Free Carry was formerly trained by Tony Gollan in Brisbane and beat Beau Rain home when a close second to Central Park in his North Queensland debut last start.

“He may need to get his rating up, but the owners are keen to run in the Townsville Cup,” Kenning said.

“Tony (Gollan) thought he was no longer viable in Brisbane, so his owners sent him to me. He ran a blinder in his first run for me.”