Naming a horse in honour of a much missed relative is a lovely way to pay tribute and Kev’s Lad is a rather special horse because of this very reason… the promising three-year-old named after his breeder Kev Kealey who passed away in 2015.
Not having much luck at his first couple of outings, the son of Bon Hoffa was game in the placings at Ballarat despite being caught wide both times.
From a better gate Kev’s Lad enjoyed a better run in transit at Donald on Thursday and he was always travelling well for Jarrod Fry, wearing down the leader and putting his nose down where it counted.
“It was a good performance by a horse who still has a bit to learn,” Mitchell said.
“It took him a while to hit the front and once he did so he was not quite sure how to go on with it.”
“There is a great deal of improvement in him and he is a horse who will win his fair share of races.”
“The blinkers helped today,” Jarrod Fry said, noting that the chestnut “travelled a lot more smoothly throughout.”
“When he got there he did not know how to put them away but he got the job done and he will take a lot out of that.”
A 3/4 brother to the city placed eight times winner Country Tide, Kev’s Lad is the final foal produced by the unraced Mukaddamah mare Rousey, a half-sister to the Stradbroke Handicap winner Rouslan.
A descendant of the famed matriarch Eulogy, Kev’s Lad can boast amongst his relations the stakes winners King Creole, Quick Star, Charm’s Honour, Unpainted, Shiftmar and Plush.
