Podium Star has lived up to the hype with an easy win at his belated debut.
In an afternoon when the 2024-2025 Sunshine Coast premiership-winning Kendrick Racing kicked off the new season with a treble, Podium Star was outstanding.
A 12-length trial winner leading into the race, Podium Star ($1.35-fav), ridden by Jag Guthmann-Chester, led all the way to win the Maiden (1000m) by three-and-a-half lengths.
Trainer Stuart Kendrick said it was an extremely satisfying day for the connections of Podium Star as he’d taken a long time to get to the races.
“He’s had his share of issues but has shown in each trial that he has plenty of ability, and produced that at his first start,” Kendrick said.
“He is one of the remaining Lohnros,” he said.
“He is a strong colt and should improve further with the run.”
Kendrick said he was hopeful the four-year-old would be competitive in better class races in the future.
Kendrick Racing’s other two winners were Bonded Affair and Umetini, both ridden by Ben Thompson, back from Hong Kong.
Bonded Affair ($2-fav) bounced back with a strong win in a Benchmark 75 (1200m).
“We made a gear change and put the earmuffs on him to get him to settle better in the run after a couple of unlucky runs,” Kendrick said.
“He was wanting to over-race, which was costing him finishing off,” he said.
“They worked a treat as he relaxed perfectly, with a great ride by Ben Thomson, and managed to get over the top of our other runner Defiant Spirit in the last hundred metres. “Both horses are capable of winning in town and will probably head in that direction next start.”
After a very unlucky run last start, Umetini bounced back with a dominant win from an awkward gate in a Class 3 Plate (1800m).
Thompson put her in a terrific position and got her into the clear at the right time, and she finished very strolling to win running away. “Hopefully, now up in distance, she can continue to step up in classes and put a few more wins on the board,” Kendrick said.
