Kennedy lines up powerful team at home meeting

[Wandering Eyes]

Wingatui trainer Terry Kennedy will have plenty of firepower at his home meeting on Friday, where he will be represented by nine runners, headlined by Nobellem (NZ) (Belardo) in the Positive Signs + Print Rating 75 (1200m).

The daughter of Belardo has been in pleasing form for Kennedy, who races her in partnership with his wife Debbie, having placed in her last two starts over 1200m.

She has been freshened since her last-start runner-up effort at Wingatui in March, and Kennedy is hopeful of a bold showing from barrier nine.

“She should go well,” Kennedy said. “She has been racing well at Dunedin and she is honest. She will probably race outside the leader, there is a bit of speed in that race.”

Nobellem will be ridden for the first time by Cambridge-based apprentice Nichola Yuen, and will benefit from her two-kilogram claim.

“We have got two-kilo allowance on her which should help,” Kennedy said. “Nichola Yuen looks like a good rider.”

Stablemate Red Star Bella (NZ) (War Decree) will also head into Friday in a fresh state, and Kennedy is hopeful of a breakthrough victory in the More FM Maiden (1200m), with the daughter of War Decree having placed in three of her five career starts to date.

“Red Star Bella drew one, she races well fresh and will be a good chance,” Kennedy said. “She jumped out the other day and went quite well.”

Of Kennedy’s other runners, he believes he has a strong chance in the last, the Speights Rating 65 (1600m).

“Cimarron (NZ) (Charm Spirit) and Miss Belle (NZ) (Belardo) in the last are probably my other two best runners,” he said.

While the racing season is winding down in the south, Kennedy said he does have a couple of younger prospects he is looking forward to next term, including Bobby Mcgee (NZ) (Ancient Spirit).

“I have got a nice two-year-old by Ancient Spirit that has had one start for a third,” he said. “She looks like she could have the goods.”

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