Des Kennedy, the mayor of Mudgee and a part-owner and breeder of Are You Sure, is eagerly awaiting Sunday’s $35,000 Gooree Cup at Mudgee that has attracted a quality field.
Are You Sure is raced by Kennedy and his wife Carol, Cheryl Crockett, the wife of legendary horse breaker and trainer Max Crockett and their son, young trainer Cameron Crockett.
Kennedy will have two bites of the cherry also being a part-owner of the Max Crockett-trained Lancelot.
Are You Sure, by Arena out of Are You Ready, gave Kennedy a life time thrill when the four-year-old won over 1900m last start at Canterbury on April 23.
“It was Des’s first city winner after trying for 40 years,” Cameron Crockett revealed. “Des was rapt. He went right off. It was a great thrill for all of us.
“I’ve only won one cup race before.
“I’d love to win a cup at home. That would be brilliant.”
Are You Sure is chasing his third successive win after success in the Wellington Cup (1700m) on March 23 when ridden by Robert Thompson who chased keenly for the mount on Sunday.
While dropping back from 1900m to 1600m isn’t ideal, Crockett has done his home-work.
“I’ve backed him up quickly twice, once from a Dubbo run to Mudgee and another time from Warwick Farm to Mudgee and he won both times,” Crockett said. “I wouldn’t do it on a lot of tracks but the Mudgee mile is a real backmarkers track. There’s only one turn and they tend to sort themselves out early.
“Every horse gets its chance there.”
Are You Sure has been an enigmatic galloper with a record of eight wins and eight placing’s from 26 starts.
“I’ve had to be a bit of a psychiatrist with him,” Crockett admitted. “He always had something up his sleeve. He always had heaps of ability; it’s been a matter of getting it out of him.
“This campaign he’s back to his old best form. He’s doing everything right. He used to do too much wrong before. I used to have to put different gear on him to coax the best out of him. That’s all gone.
“He’s the sort of horse that has grown in confidence. Like humans he’s learned to do his best and keep winning.
“The horse is in outstanding order. I couldn’t be happier with him. He hasn’t left a grain since Canterbury and if anything the run has brought him on.”
Crockett warned his father’s horse Lancelot “worked brilliantly” during the week but he wouldn’t swap Are You Sure for any runner.
Nor would ‘the Mayor,’ Des Kennedy.
