Leading trainer Stuart Kendrick eager for Queensland summer racing carnival

Leading South East Queensland trainer Stuart Kendrick has opened up on his red-hot start to the season as he highlights his next debut star and best chances for the Mooloolaba Cup.

Sunshine Coast based racing trainer Stuart Kendrick. Picture: Patrick Woods

Stuart Kendrick’s Caloundra-based stable has flown out of the gates this season recording nine wins and 21 placings from 69 metropolitan starts – placing it firmly atop of the provincial leaderboard with 29 wins and 36 placings from 114 starts.

The former Mackay based training champion is also well on track to take out his 12th consecutive Sunshine Coast premiership title as he sits 17 wins clear of Jack Bruce and Robert Heathcote who are tied for second spot.

He said the decision to reduce his on course numbers, paired with the nearby Palmwoods farm had been major success keys.

“Our goal at the start of the season was to get those metropolitan wins up and we’ve got some nice horses so it’s been a really good start to the season and the provincial results are taking care of themselves,” he said.

“Having the farm and a training track just 15 minutes away is absolute gold so the horses freshen up and bounce out of a run a lot better when their heads are in the grass.”

Bailey Wheeler wins the Doomben Mile aboard Tidal Creek for trainer Stuart Kendrick. Picture: Grant Peters/Trackside Photography

With a home strike rate percentage of 28.2 (win) and 55.1 (place), Kendrick said he was looking forward to Mooloolaba Cup Day, which kicks off the Queensland Summer Carnival on November 18.

“Tidal Creek will hopefully head towards the Mooloolaba Cup and also Menazzi who’s running at Doomben on Saturday so if he can knock off one in town he might be able to sneak in as well,” he said.

“We’ve also got ones like Maximum Output and Bonaparte in the $100,000 race at the Sunshine Coast on Friday night so depending on how they go they might head towards that card as well.

“There’s also a nice race for Lost In Transit so overall we should hopefully have some good ammunition for that day.”

MAXIMUM OUTPUT put in a maximum effort winning Race 6️⃣ at Sunshine Coast @SCTurfClub making it a double today for the Archer Park Racing - @kendrickracing1 - @JasperFrankli14 combination.

Congratulations to all connections🏆🏆 pic.twitter.com/dPhqzcx0Ek

— Archer Park Racing (@ArcherParkRace) October 15, 2023

After an impressive trial win from maiden three-year-old Targeted, Kendrick said was eager to see how he performed on debut.

“He was in on Wednesday but drew wide so he’s also nominated for Sunday at home,” he said.

“He’s had his fair share of issues but is a lovely horse and was pretty impressive the other day so hopefully we can draw a nice gate where he can just roll forward to get his confidence going first up.”

Kendrick said he was also enjoying his budding relationship with fresh-faced Queensland apprentice Jasper Franklin.

“He looks like he’s got his head switched on under Peter Robl, he’s not trying to get his weight down too quickly and he’s obviously got plenty of talent so wherever we can utilise him with his 3kg provincial claim we will,” Kendrick said.

Together the pair have recorded four wins from six starts this season.