The Jewel Raceday at the Gold Coast in a fortnight is shaping as a big one for Kendrick Racing.
Having qualified Another Champers for the Jewel 2YO with a win in a Prelude race in Rockhampton during the week, the stable also has a live chance in the Jewel 3YO (1200m) after Galactic Star shone first-up from a spell at Eagle Farm on Saturday (February 28).
Ridden by Ben Thompson, Galactic Jewell won a Class 3 (1000m) first-up from a spell and at his third career start.
It took his record to two wins and a second after winning on debut at Ipswich and then finishing a close second at that same track last start in November.
On Saturday, Galactic Star settled well back and unleashed a strong finish down the centre of the track to win by three-quarters of a length.
Kendrick elected to bypass the Jewel Prelude 3YO in favour of this Class 3 assignment — a move that paid immediate dividends.
“It was a good win,” Kendrick said post‑race.
“We’ve had the Jewel earmarked in a couple of weeks for him and everything sort of ticked over nicely leading into this,” he said.
“It’s not very easy for these three‑year‑olds taking on some of these older horses, but he’s still got plenty of fitness improvement there,” Kendrick said.
“He’s one of those horses … He’s just got such a relaxed attitude in everything he does at home, but as soon as he jumps out of those gates, he’s a different horse. So, that’s what you like.
“It’d be nice to win him in two weeks in the Jewel 3YO,” Kendrick said. “I think he’ll take a lot of improvement out of this today.”
Galactic Star had only one trial leading in — a Deagon hit‑out —leaving the stable wary when Saturday’s track was wet.
“That was the only thing we were a little worried about as the track was heavy this morning,” Kendrick said.
“But as it’s come back to a seven, it was okay,” he said.
“So, he’ll improve fitness‑wise and, hopefully, be ready to go in two weeks.”