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Darryll Kell could not have wished for a more fitting maiden provincial winner!
Not only did the former harness racing devotee achieve it at his home track at Hawkesbury today, but with a "Mum" who was off the racing scene for more than two and a half years, and has made a remarkable comeback to the track.
Kell's six-year-old mare Mahogany Girl ($15), who gave birth 12 months ago to a now yearling colt by Peltzer, won the Richmond Club 4YO & Up Maiden Handicap (1300m).
Ridden by Chad Lever, Mahogany Girl upset $2.60 favorite Altair I Am and I Am Wild ($11).
Kell was involved in the harness racing industry for more than 40 years, and this is his second crack at training thoroughbreds instead.
"I went to Clarry Conners at Warwick Farm back in 2003 with the idea of getting my thoroughbred licence," he explained this afternoon.
"But I was training pacers at the time, had a lot on my plate and just couldn't fit everything in.
"I spent only a month with Clarry, but revisited the idea again and contacted him in 2017.
"This time it was different. I was with Clarry for five months to get my licence, and it was a very beneficial period."
Kell had trained three winners at the gallops – his first being Will She Ever at Bombala in October 219 – before his provincial breakthrough today.
That arose after his close friends Scott and Kathy Robertson, successful harness racing breeders, asked him to train a mare who had raced only once when third in a Wagga Maiden Plate (1200m) on January 6, 2022 after coming from last of the 12 runners on a very heavy track.
"Mahogany Girl (a daughter of Medaglia D'Oro stallion Mshawish, who was shuttled to Australia for one season) broke down and seemingly was destined never to race again," Kell said.
"Scott and Kathy mated her with Peltzer, and she gave birth to a lovely colt last year.
"Convinced that she was worth trying again as a racing proposition, they asked me to train her.
"That was about seven months ago, and it's been a journey to get her back to the races."
Kell won both trials with Mahogany Girl at Warwick Farm (786m) in June and Hawkesbury (800m) in August before resuming her at Goulburn on September 26.
She ran third in a field of six and then second at Queanbeyan on October 13 before her trainer considered it was time to take the next step to provincial grade.
Whilst Kell's harness racing skills clearly came to the fore in getting Mahogany Girl not only back to the track after such a long absence and becoming a mother, let alone winning a race with her, he modestly deferred the credit to his mare.
"Mahogany Girl has always had the ability, and is a natural athlete," he said.
"She is very sound and my main focus was getting her back to the races.
"Anything else was a bonus, so it's a massive thrill to win with her, especially for my good friends Scott and Kathy.
"They have been very successful breeders in the harness industry, and are now transitioning to the thoroughbreds.
"One of their broodmares Matryoshka (by I Am Invincible) foaled Straight Charge (who won the Silver Slipper Stakes at Rosehill Gardens in February and finished sixth in the Golden Slipper Stakes there the following month).
"They have bred a yearling full brother to Straight Charge, and there was cause for double celebration today as, besides Mahogany Girl's victory, Matryoskka this morning foaled a colt by Zoustar."
Kell says he feels "so lucky" to have the assistance of leading harness racing trainer-driver Luke McCarthy and his wife Belinda's Cobbitty Equine Farm and jockey Chad Lever.
"I currently have three horses in work (a fourth is in the paddock) at the McCarthy's farm, which is set up magnificently," he said.
"It's not far to take them to the track at Hawkesbury, and Chad has been so very helpful riding them work, and in races.
"He has done a terrific job with Mahogany Girl."
. Fellow Hawkesbury trainer Terry Croft also did a terrific job to prepare Starros ($7) for a first-up victory at home today, matched only by apprentice Mollie Fitzgerald's ride.
"Family horse" Starros, raced by Croft's wife Roslyn and son Shane, was purchased by the trainer for $7000 at the 2021 HTBA yearling sale at Inglis' Riverside complex.
Croft scored first-up with the Star Witness gelding at Bathurst in February, and got him ready to do the same in the San Miguel CG&E Benchmark 64 Handicap (1100m).
Fitzgerald's dashing ride was the icing on the cake.
After drawing the outside barrier in a field of 11, she eased Starros back to the last on the fence, then never went around a horse when others drifted away from the inside on straightening.
She hustled Starros through to take the lead and then hold off a late-finishing Cassiel ($4.20) and Mr Rock It ($6.50) to post his fourth victory.
Croft "imported" Fitzgerald to Hawkesbury a fortnight ago to score on stablemate Suay Mam'selle, and the talented mid north coast apprentice is now starting to make her mark at the provincials as she nears a century of career winners (presently 92).
