Just Precious, ridden by apprentice Jace McMurray, broke through in a 3YO race as a hot favourite at the Sunshine Coast on Friday.
DUSHENKA was oblivious to the fact there was a $1.14 favourite in the field when she won a metropolitan race on debut on Saturday.
The Doubtland filly, ridden by Kyle Wilson-Taylor, was impressive at her first race-day outing in winning a QTIS 2YO (1200m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday (January 18).
Dushenka (main photo) was untroubled in winning by two-and-a-quarter lengths as a $16 shot.
Stable representative Bayley Kendrick said post-race that it was hard to be confident with such a short-priced favourite in the field.
But he said connections were confident Dushenka would run well.
She had shown good improvement in two trials, finishing fourth over 850 metres before winning over 1000 metres.
Kendrick said she’d relegated another Kendrick Racing runner, which they had an opinion of, to second in that most recent trial.
He said that suggested the 1200 metres would be the perfect kick-off point for her.
“She’s a lovely horse and I think she’ll improve as she gets older.”
Kendrick Racing had its own hot pot favourite the day before when Just Precious went around at the Sunshine Coast as a $1.18 chance.
Hearts were in mouths when she was slow away and caught up in a scrimmage in the straight.
But her class prevailed, recovering to win by three-quarters of a length in a 3YO Maiden (1000m) at her third career start.