Newcomer Kennedy wastes no time in Townsville

By Jordan Gerrans

Newcomer to North Queensland Ben Kennedy has most certainly hit the ground running in his new venture and has landed winners at three race meetings since arriving in the region.

Kennedy is a former Western Australian-based hoop, who took a detour via Victoria before making his way to Townsville in the Sunshine State.

The 33-year-old struck first at Bowen last Sunday before he recorded a winning double at Home Hill on the following Saturday.

The following day, he scored a treble at his new home track, Townsville’s Cluden Park.

In the space of eight days, the black-type winning rider racked up six winners to announce himself as a rider to watch ahead of the Northern Queensland Winter Racing Carnival.

Kennedy has linked up with top NQ trainer Tom Button, who has recently relocated his base from Bowen to Townsville.

“I have just slotted into the system quite well,” Kennedy said of his new move.

“Townsville gives me probably a lot more back home vibes. 

"Everyone's a bit more laid back, whereas Melbourne was very competitive head-to-head, dog-eat-dog, so to speak.

“So, coming here, everything's just a bit more relaxed, it fits my personality a bit nicer.

“I like my fishing; I like my golfing. There's a few of the boys around that seem to be into that, which has been a welcome change.

“I spoke to Tommy about it and said we would give it a go for a month and see how it goes, but we have settled in well so far and it’s been a good match.

“The way it's looking, we're looking at hanging around for a bit.”

It was Kennedy’s partner, Samantha Zoljan, who instigated the shift north.

Zoljan was a former apprentice jockey in the Sunshine State, but has been away from the game for a touch over a year after an injury.

The 26-year-old Zoljan rode 20 winners in her first stint in the saddle. 

Following her injury, Zoljan relocated to Victoria, where she met Kennedy, and she is keen to relaunch her riding career in NQ alongside her partner.

Zoljan has also been riding trackwork for the leading provincial conditioner, Button, in her bid to get back to the races.

Kennedy has repaid Button's faith in him so early in his shift north.

From Kennedy’s six winners so far in the region, five have come for his new boss.

“We’ve got 13 in work here, which is a full house at the moment, and we’ll be looking for another barn for some young ones coming through,” Button said of his shift to Townsville. 

“Ben’s been an important addition to the stable. He’s a good rider and hard worker.”

Kennedy has recorded three Listed victories earlier in his career before heading to NQ.

He began his winning ways in the area by scoring aboard The Hairdresser for Button at Bowen last Sunday.

“She did a super job,” Kennedy said of The Hairdresser’s performance.

“We probably thought we were a touch underdone, not having a trial, but we managed to get her in a great spot and she travelled like the winner the whole way.

“So, she's a good, honest little horse, I think.

“She is no world-beater, but she is a horse that you can turn up and know what you're going to get with her each and every time.

“It was a great way to kick off, it was nice to hit the ground running, that's for sure.”

The victories continued at Home Hill on Saturday with Button’s Northern Pride, who is likely to be a key runner come carnival time, before he scored his lone winner for a trainer not named Button when he was triumphant aboard Drumshanbo for the in-form Terry McGovern.

Kennedy’s three Cluden winners were with Esprit Lad, Heart Of Vienna and Russian Mint on Sunday.

Russian Mint is also set to be a carnival contender in sprint events over the coming months.

“Tommy’s put my front foot forward to a lot of trainers around here,” Kennedy said.

“It would be nice to have eight rides for Tommy every meeting and it'd be a simple game like that.

“But, you've got to branch out, you've got to be noticed by other people, as well, which he's sort of put me forward to them and they've seemed to come to the calling.

“I had a good book of rides on the weekend and hopefully that stamps my name in North Queensland.”