By Tony Megahey
Tiny, tenacious Miss Emily is attempting four successive wins for Kylie Kennedy at Saturday’s Forbes TAB meeting, and the country 'Cups Queen' said her latest was inspiring on a day barely tolerable for human or horse.
“At the Come-by-Chance picnics it was century heat, gale force winds, smothering clouds of red dust, and this little thing carried 64 kilos in tough conditions and won in record time,” Kylie enthused.
“She’s small, but wow what a big motor, we love her dearly. This will be her last start before she goes to stud.”
Miss Emily had been unplaced in all 10 starts on ACT tracks before Kylie and her partner, leading picnic jockey Ricky Blewitt, worked the amazing transformation at their Narromine stables.
“We were told she had shown ability but was so immature and just didn’t have her head in the right place to make a racehorse,” explained Kylie, whose country cups record measures up with the best in regional history.
The daughter of accomplished country jockey and now trainer Wayne Collison, Kylie in recent seasons has won the Cowra Japan Cup, the Warren and Tomingley Cups, Tullibigeal Cup, and the Grenfell and Mudgee Picnic Cups. “Our family is really proud of those over a long time; they're marvellous country meetings with so much history.”
Meanwhile, her latest stand out Miss Emily has been dominant winning at a TAB Gilgandra meeting and at Mendooran, before her endurance test at Come-by-Chance.
“Often the different environment can make the difference - it’s so peaceful and relaxed out here. Neil Osborne sent her here in immaculate condition, they just wanted us to win a race for stud value.
"She responded to individual care, made stable friends and suddenly her trackwork and attitude just picked up super. She was down a lot in grade from Canberra out here and when she won a Gilgandra maiden at $51 it really didn’t surprise us on her trackwork, and then she just kept it going.”
Miss Emily has top weight of 59kg in the Forbes Caravan & Cabin Park Class 2 (1400m) and despite her small frame, Kylie won’t claim.
“Anthony Cavallo will ride; he’s ridden her in two wins. He understands her and the way she races. She’ll get back again but she’s flying so hopefully she can finish her racing career with another win. But whatever, she’ll finish with some really good race form for the breeding aspect.”
View the final fields with full form & race replays for Forbes here