Image © Healy Racing
James Kenny recorded the first winner of his training career when The Orphan Girl landed the five- and six-year-old mares’ maiden at Tyrella on Saturday.
The six-year-old daughter of Quest For Peace made virtually all under Graham Devitt to score by two lengths, providing the rider with his first success between the flags and giving Kenny a memorable breakthrough since taking out his handler’s licence earlier this season.
“It was great to get the first winner on the board. I’ve been training horses alongside my father Liam here for years and this season I just took out the handler’s licence in my own name.”
Owned by the four-member Orphan Girl Syndicate from Ballymoney, Gorey, The Orphan Girl had shown consistent form prior to the victory and relished the conditions at Tyrella.
“She had plenty of placed form and it was probably the first time she got decent ground. She’d been running throughout the winter on softer ground, so the nicer ground suited her.”
The victory was also a notable moment for Devitt, who partnered his first winner between the flags aboard the mare.
“Graham is a lovely chap and he comes down to me once a week, so it was nice to give him his first winner as well.”
The mare has come out of the race well and could now step into winners’ company, although a sale remains a possibility.
“She came out of the race fine. She’ll probably go for a mares’ winners’ race if she’s not sold.”
While The Orphan Girl provided Kenny with his breakthrough success, the Craanford handler had already been knocking on the door during his opening months with the licence.
From 18 runners so far this season he has recorded a winner along with four seconds and three thirds, with a number of near misses along the way, including Menethil, who hit the crossbar at Farmacaffley when beaten just two and a half lengths in a competitive maiden.
“We were a bit unlucky not to get our first winner with a four-year-old the week before. It would have been nice to break the duck with a four-year-old as that’s the main side of the business.”
Operating from the family yard in Ballydarragh, Craanford, Kenny currently has around 20 horses in training for point-to-points, while he also holds a licence to train under Rules, which he obtained in November.
Despite now training in his own name, he continues to work closely with his father Liam, who remains heavily involved in the day-to-day running of the yard.
“I wouldn’t be able to do any of it without my father. He’s a massive help and does a lot of the yard work and tractor work.”
Ross Sugrue is another key member of the team and regularly assists with schooling, while Kenny himself still rides plenty of work at home.
“Ross Sugrue is a massive help as well. He comes down whenever I need him and does a lot of schooling.”
Although Kenny trains both point-to-pointers and track horses, the core focus of the operation remains producing young horses.
“The whole thing has to be run as a business, so the main focus will always be four-year-olds.”
The yard has an exciting team of pointers and several promising youngsters are expected to run in the coming weeks, including a Walk In The Park filly called Polly Park and a Crystal Ocean gelding named Class Above.
Before turning his attention fully to training, Kenny enjoyed a successful spell in the saddle. Over nine seasons riding as an amateur between the flags he partnered just shy of 40 winners and also rode eight winners under Rules. He also shared the Western Jockeys’ title during the Covid-affected 2020/21 season alongside Barry O’Neill and Rob James.
Champion handler Colin Bowe played a significant role in Kenny’s development during those riding days.
“I worked for Colin Bowe for five years when I was riding and learned plenty while I was there. He was a big part of me getting going and I owe a lot to him.”
The yard has also enjoyed plenty of success on the track in recent seasons through the talented mare World Of Fortunes, who has been something of a flagbearer for the stable. The daughter of Soldier Of Fortune won six races under the care of Kenny Snr and provided the family with some memorable days on the racecourse.
“She’s been unbelievable. I actually rode my last ever winner under Rules on her in a bumper in Wexford. I got a spin around Cheltenham on her at a November meeting and she brought us to Doncaster for a Listed race. We’ve run her in Grade 1s as well, so she’s been a great mare for the yard.”
Now racing under Kenny’s own name, the eight-year-old has continued to perform with credit and he was unlucky not to have already recorded his first success under Rules with the mare when she finished runner-up in a Grade 3 mares’ contest at Punchestown on February 18, where she was considered unfortunate in running.
“She was second in a Grade 3 a couple of weeks ago and was probably a bit unlucky in running. The plan is to go to Kelso in a couple of weeks for a Listed mares’ race.”
With the first winner now on the board, Kenny is hoping the Tyrella success can be the start of further progress for the Craanford operation.
“I can house close to 27 or 28 horses but I’d rather keep the quality high and not get too big too quick. Hopefully we can build on it now.”
