Broodmare to racemare, policeman to trainer: The remarkable story of Mahogany Girl and Darryll Kell

When Mahogany Girl was sent to trainer Darryll Kell just months after giving birth to her first foal, her chances of getting back to the track – let alone winning a race – looked slim. But now she’s mixing it with racing’s elite.

The broodmare gave birth to a yearling colt, was returned to training under the care of a former police officer, has qualified for a $1 million race at The Championships, and might be the scene-stealer at the Rosehill Gardens Group 1 meeting on Saturday.

This is the unlikely story of Mahogany Girl, topweight for the Rosehill opener, the Midway Handicap (1300m).

There’s some of the best racehorses in Australia and from around the world competing at Rosehill including English raider Dubai Honour in the Group 1 $1.5 million Tancred Stakes (2400m), Melbourne’s wonder filly Treasurethe Moment in the Group 1 $750,000 Vinery Stud Stakes and the outstanding Ceolwulf in the Group 2 $300,000 Neville Sellwood Stakes (2000m).

But Mahogany Girl could be hogging some of the headlines if she can continue her remarkable comeback story and win her fourth race in succession.

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Her trainer, Darryll Kell, remembers when the mare was sent to him to be put into work last year after having given birth to a colt by Peltzer the previous spring.

“When she came to my stable, she was more than 570kg. When you look at a broodmare and say let’s get her back to the races it’s a daunting task, to say the least,’’ Kell said.

“But her body shape changed quite quickly, it was quite amazing to be honest, and she enjoys being a racehorse again.’’

There are many examples of mares racing well when in foal like Prophet’s Kiss who ran unplaced behind Ethereal in the 2001 Melbourne Cup when in foal to Way Of Light. She produced a colt some 10 months later.

Trainer Darryll Kell (left) with Mahogany Girl at Hawkesbury. Picture: Bradley Photos

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Special was carrying a Bluebird colt when she ran second in the 1989 Lightning Stakes at Flemington to Zeditave. She gave birth to her first foal later that same year.

But for a mare to return to racing after giving birth is extremely rare, particularly in the thoroughbred code.

There was a celebrated case in Victoria back in 2016 when two juvenile fillies, Ima Yulanda and Gai Skier, were in training and a colt somehow made his way into their paddock and served them.

Both gave birth some months later and were then returned to training. Ima Yulanda won a race at Cranbourne and Gay Skier eventually retired a maiden.

But Mahogany Girl has been a revelation since making her return to racing after having her foal. She was placed at Goulburn and Queanbeyan in her comeback runs then broke her maiden at Hawkesbury.

She’s won four of her eight starts since her comeback, including her last three starts culminating with the Provincial Midway Championships Qualifier at Hawkesbury earlier this month.

Mahogany Girl leads all the way and is heading to Randwick for the $1 million Provincal-Midway Championship Final! 🙌

Well Timed will also feature after placing second! pic.twitter.com/er9vN32cJi

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 8, 2025

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This win ensures Mahogany Girl will line up in the $1 million Provincial Midway Championships Final at Royal Randwick on April 12.

Mahogany Girl’s story began when she was found to have suffered a tendon injury soon after finishing third on debut at Wagga Wagga more than three years ago.

Veterinary opinion suggested she would never race again so her breeder-owner Scott Robertson retired her to stud.

Mahogany Girl gave birth to her foal in October, 2023, but after taking care of her foal for nearly a year, the mare underwent a veterinary examination where it was found her tendon injury had completely healed.

The decision was made to put her back into work and determine if she still had the desire to be a racehorse – and the mare hasn’t looked back since.

Mahogany Girl is flying! And she races at Rosehill this Saturday in the opener 💥@RayThomas_1@[e-mail]/EP42kIKI6q

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 27, 2025

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Her trainer, Kell, 59, who served nine years in the NSW Police Force and has trained trotters with some success, has never had a starter at a city gallops meeting.

“I’ve always loved the thoroughbred – I used to go and watch Kingston Town race when I was a teenager,’’ Kell said.

“After I got out of the police force, I guess I turned left when I should have gone right and ended up in the harness code. But I’ve always want to train thoroughbreds, it’s just took me a while to get there.’’

Mahogany Girl wins at Hawkesbury earlier this month. Picture: Bradley Photos

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Kell has four in work but Mahogany Girl is clearly his stable star. The likelihood of a wet track doesn’t bother the trainer, he just wants the Rosehill meeting to go ahead as his mare needs the run ahead of the Provincial Midway Championships Final in two weeks.

“Mahogany Girl has had three weeks between runs so she needs this race to have her ready for Randwick,’’ Kell said.

“I know she’s got plenty of weight but one thing about her, she’s hard to get past in her races. She’s determined, tries her hardest every start and she keeps getting better.’’

Mahogany Girl’s yearling colt is from the first crop by Twin Hills Stud stallion Peltzer, a son of champion So You Think, who won six of his 13 starts including the Group 2 Stan Fox Stakes.

Robertson, who bred the colt, has retained the yearling which is understandable given Mahogany Girl’s successful comeback to racing.