Local hopes set to shine at Wingatui

Terry Kennedy has the firepower to strike a possible winning blow or two at his home meeting on Friday.

The Wingatui trainer will be represented by half a-dozen runners and tipped Proudtobehere and Generation Joy as his leading lights on the program.

Belardo mare Proudtobehere will be chasing two wins on the bounce when she steps out in the More FM Handicap (1600m) with Mereana Hudson to guide the last-start course and distance victor.

“She would be one of my best chances, she was very good last time and just keeps improving. She hasn’t missed a bit since and gone forward very well,” Kennedy said.

She will be opposed by stablemate Yoo Hoo Joy, the mount of Kylie Williams, but the most recent fifth has a wide gate to contend with and Proudtobehere is rated the number one seed.

Generation Joy will take aim at The Mosgiel Tavern Club Challenge Day – 31st May Handicap (1600m) and looms as a top ride for Williams.

The daughter of Ghibellines has been up against far stronger opposition in her last two outings with runs for sixth and seventh respectively in the Listed Dunedin Gold Cup (2400m) and the Highway Stakes (2147m).

“She’s back to her own grade and she goes well over a mile,” Kennedy said.

“She hasn’t raced since Easter so she’s on the fresh side, which is good, and she’ll back up over 2200m on Sunday week (in the Wairio Cup).

“She hardly ever goes a bad race, she’s only won three races but has won over $100,000, so she’s done pretty well.”

Kennedy has also booked Williams for American Cheval in the Grand Casino Handicap (1200m) and Nobellem in the KB Contractors Handicap (1200m).

“American Cheval is back to 1200m but drops quite a bit of weight so I think she will be competitive,” he said.

The American Pharoah mare won over 1400m on the course last time out with 58kg and will carry 3.5kg less on Friday.

Four-time winner Nobellem came off a two-month break last time out to finish runner-up over.

“She hadn’t raced for a long time, so she’s taken quite a bit of improvement and is probably going to be a bit better on Sunday week as well,” Kennedy said.

Litteral will also make her first appearance for the stable in the event after relocating from Ken and Bev Kelso’s Matamata stable.

“I’ve had her about two months, and she came down in great order,” Kennedy said

“I’ve kept her ticking along and she’s had one jump-out, but she will improve quite a bit with the run.”