Paige Kenney will be hoping she can commence a new month in the same blazing fashion as she ended the last.
Kenney saddled 14 starters in May and for a small stable she returned a top strike rate of five wins and five placings.
Entrechat, Flower Of Scotland, Elsa’s Tribe and Rosie Red Dress have been the stable flag bearers with wins at Northam, Pinjarra and Belmont respectively.
Entrechat, a daughter of Street Cry, has been a welcome and fortunate pickup for Kenney after previous stints with notable trainers Justin Warwick and Alana Williams.
The six-year-old showcased her wares with a solid Northam win two starts back, but the manner in which she attacked the line at Belmont on Saturday caught the eye.
Under the guidance of South African-born apprentice, Fiona Bell, Entrechat showed a strong turn of foot to charge home from the back half of the field.
At double figure odds she entered the race as somewhat of a forgotten horse, but won with authority, putting 2 ¼ lengths on her next rival.
Kenney admits she is lucky to have a good horse virtually fall into her lap and modestly downplays the role she has played in the mares’ current form.
“She has been a good pickup for me,” Kenney said on Tabradio’s The Sunday Aftermath.
“I wouldn’t say I turned her around or anything like that because she had form before she joined me.
“It was just a matter of me keeping her fit and happy to maintain that form.
“My friend Alana Williams couldn’t take her back with the volume of horses she and Grant have for Bob Peters.
“She put in a good word for me at Scenic Lodge and it’s worked out perfectly.”
Entrechat, who went past a $100,000 in stake earnings, kick started a top weekend for Bell, who 24 hours later booted home a career high treble at Kalgoorlie.
Kenney lavished praise on the young rider.
“I didn’t really have an association with Fiona, but one of my owners had used her in the past and were really happy with her,” Kenney said.
“That’s why she got to ride her at Northam and rode a great race before following up again the other day.
“I haven’t used her that often, but when I have she has done a good job.
“As far as apprentices go she is one of the better ones going around at the moment.”
Meanwhile Kenney said last week’s winners Elsa’s Tribe and Rosie Red Dress are set for promising futures.
Elsa’s Pride, who had been knocking on the door with very close seconds, shed his maiden status at Pinjarra, spearing through to score by 1 ¼ lengths.
Rosie Red Dress, at her second race start, came from the tail at Northam, winding up out wide for, William Pike, to defeat Tusk by one length.
“I thought they would be in the paddock by now, but Elsa’s Pride seems to be getting better and better all the time,” Kenney said.
“I wouldn’t mind keeping him in work for a little while longer and may be putting him over some of the distance races for the three-year-olds coming up.
“And the same with Rosie Red Dress who has some ability as well.”
RWWA: Julio Santarelli