Beaudiene Rocknroll leaves them standing at Cambridge. PHOTO: Chanelle Lawson.
Beaudiene Rocknroll the latest winner for Babe - and the Kennedys are in on the fun
By Barry Lichter • 3 June 2023
Nobody enjoyed Beaudiene Rocknroll’s all-the-way win at Cambridge more than his Otautau breeders Dave and Dawn Kennedy.
Had the powerful looking colt been by a more commercial stallion than A Rocknroll Dance, their names wouldn’t still be among the owners’ list.
It’s rare for the Kennedys to keep their colts, especially given the prices they have commanded at the yearling sales over the years, but after the stock of A Rocknroll Dance sold so poorly the previous year they decided to keep him.
“He was a lovely cut of a horse, real showy and strong, very much like his mother Beaudiene Babe, and looked like he’d make a racehorse,” Dave Kennedy said.
“So we thought we’d send him north to Ray Green to see what he could do with him.”
Dave and Dawn Kennedy in 2016 with Themightynadal, a brother to their champion (Im) Themightyquinn.The Kennedys were keen to reward Green and Lincoln Farms for being great customers of Beaudiene Breeding, having bought, raced and onsold three half brothers, Harness Jewels upsetter Beaudiene Boaz (25 wins, A$1.25 million), Beaudiene Beaufighta and Beaudiene Western.
“Ray obviously gets on well with the family and we’d had no luck with the first one I sent him.”
Green tried Beaudiene Blinkz, a full sister to Beaudiene Boaz, but she first fractured a hock then, when brought back into work, was found to have a suspensory ligament issue in the same leg and was retired.
Her replacement, Beaudiene Rocknroll, was also top of the pops for Green when shaping up for his two-year-old season. He liked him so much, big Melbourne owners Merv and Meg Butterworth bought a quarter share in the horse, joining the Kennedys and John and Lynne Street in the partnership.
But after only two starts he, too, ran into trouble, breaking a pedal bone which sidelined him for six months.
Beaudiene Rocknroll signalled he was back with two front-running workout wins in May but he got nowhere near the front in his first two comeback races.
Until Friday night, when driver Zachary Butcher gunned him out of the gate, the hot favourite Over The Top galloped inside him, and he found an uncontested lead.
The result was never in doubt afterwards and he cruised to the line three lengths clear in 2:43.8 for the 2200 metres.
Hale and hearty at the age of 22, Beaudiene Babe with her latest Always B Miki foal.“He’s pretty good in front and should have a bit more confidence now he’s won a race,” Kennedy said.
The Kennedys know he won’t ever be as good as the champion they bred (Im) Themightyquinn (58 wins, A$4.56million) and aren’t thinking he’s even a Beaudiene Bad Babe, Beaudiene Babe’s first foal who won 22 races and $404,000.
But it has given them the motivation to try breeding from the mare one more time.
Now 22, with 13 foals on her CV, Beaudiene Babe missed this year but has a lovely Always B Miki filly at foot, a sister to her yearling who fetched $180,000 in 2022.
“She’s still boss of the paddock, and acts like a 10-year-old. And she’s in such good order and does her foals so well.”
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Debbie Lincoln
5.26pm
“She had to sit parked most of the way last time but still went well, and that’s what she does. She’s proven to be a very promising filly and, while it’s hard these days to win without a good trip, it’s an even field and she’s a good chance again.”
Race 2: Lincoln Lou
5.55pm
“He probably cost himself a win last week by going roughly, but he can do that. If he’d got Frisco Bay’s trip he would have won with his closing quarters of 56 and 27 the fastest in the race. He’s just got to do things right to be the one to beat, even from the bad draw, as it’s an easier field.”
Race 5: Frisco Bay
7.30pm
“He’s up in grade a bit but I don’t think there’s anything between them. He’s just got to get the right run and, with his speed, he’ll be right in it.”
Race 6: Kevin Kline
7.59pm
“He’s no superstar but he’s very honest and he’s always a place chance as he’s a tough bugger, he sat parked last week.”
Race 6: Colonel Lincoln
7.59pm
“With a similar run to last week, he’d be right in it. He clocked 55.8 and 27.7, doing his best work at the finish. He hasn’t gone a bad race since he’s come back.”
Race 8: Prince Lincoln
8.59pm
“I wasn’t expecting him to do anything on debut as he’s a green, young horse. But he went very well so he’s obviously lifted his game for the occasion. And he’s trained on even better so the experience has enhanced him. From the inside he has to be a good chance.”
Race 8: Rivergirl Bella
8.59pm
“She’s definitely a better animal left-handed but she was passable right-handed and should go better this time. She’s got some speed.”
Race 8: Lincoln Downs
8.59pm
“She’s a nice filly but is behind the others. I don’t expect her to beat anything but she needs the experience.”
Race 8: Lincoln Linda
8.59pm
“There won’t be any shadows for her to jump this time so she has to be a serious chance. She’d been dominant at the workouts and trials before her debut but didn’t get the chance to show her true worth.”
Race 8: Lincoln Lover
8.59pm
“Fergie was quite impressed with him on debut and requested the drive again. He finished on strongly up the lane and should go well again. He just needs some luck from the outside of the gate.”
Mark Dux’s comments
Saturday night at Albion Park
Race 3: Argyle
9.04pm NZ time
“I thought his last two starts have been terrific. There’s no doubt this race is tougher, and he has trickier draw, but I was talking to Angus last night and he was quite upbeat about his chances. He said the horse gave him a good feel when he sat parked two starts back and he picked him too (in the draft). But it won’t be easy. There could be a bit of pressure early. I think he’ll come out and see what unfolds and, if there is too much pressure, he’ll drive him quietly.”
Ray’s comments
Sunday at Manawatu
Race 1: Onyx Shard
5.29pm
“You can put a line through her last run at Cambridge when she pulled up showing signs of a respiratory infection. She had a couple of weeks off after that and, while she hasn’t trialled since, she’s been training down nicely. She’s a nice filly and from the good draw should really win.”
Race 3: Lincoln La Moose
6.19pm
“He wasn’t far away in the amateur race at Auckland last time despite jumping a shadow early and galloping. This is a decent drop in class for him and he should be very competitive.
