West Australian owned flyer Kencella ran his rivals off their legs at Rosehill on Saturday.
Kencella is a homebred Lex and Shirley Piper and his victory in the TAB Handicap (1100m) was a bonus for the Perth couple and Mungrup Stud leading into the Perth Magic Millions next month.
Mungrup will offer an Oratorio (Aus) colt from his dam’s three-quarter sister Bonny Belle (Lot 25) on February 18 at the Belmont sales complex.
Kencella (4g Exceed And Excel – Kentiara by Metal Storm) has now won 4 of his 7 starts under the care of trainer John O’Shea since opening his account in a Goulburn maiden in March 2013. ”He just comes out and takes off,” jockey James McDonald said. ”He takes them out of their comfort zone and a fair way from home, too.
”He just does everything so easily,” McDonald added. ”John said to get a break on them at the 500m and it worked out perfectly.”
Kencella clocked a class record 63.41s for 1100 metres in defeating Dream Choice (Redoute’s Choice) by three-quarters of a length. The time was also within a second of the track record.
Stable foreman Tom Ward said Kencella is slowly learning to conserve energy. ”He’s really beginning to mature mentally and starting to relax which has allowed him to hit the line much better. Maybe stepping up to 1200m and 1300m might suit him.”
Kencella is from a family that has served up numerous stakes winners for the Pipers and Mungrup owners Gray and Jan Williamson.
His dam Kentiara (Metal Storm) was a Listed winner of the York Stakes and Detonator Stakes at Ascot. Her sister Kalatiara claimed the G2 WA Guineas and G3 Royal Heroine Stakes at Hollywood Park.
Their younger sisters Lacienne and Antique have also foaled feature winners in the west. Lacienne is the dam of Guest Wing (G2 Perth Cup) and Antique’s daughters include Antique Belle (LR Burgess Queen Stakes) and Broadway Belle (LR Jungle Dawn Classic).
Bonny Belle is a three-quarter sister to the quartet being by Metal Storm sire Stormy’s Son. Her Oratorio colt received an earlier update when her Singapore based gelding Rikioh was G3 placed in the More Magic Championship at Kranji in October.