Steno’s blistering speed the winning factor

Speedy mare Steno (Sweet Lou) added to her impressive record when she led all the way to take out the $50,000 Group 3 Laurie Kennedy Fillies and Mares Free For All the main harness racing feature  at Gloucester Park last night.

Despite a small but select field lining up, punters only wanted Steno with her rivals friendless in the betting.  Driver Jocelyn Young who also trains the mare had no hesitation using her dazzling speed to go to the front and from then on it was a matter of her opponents giving chase.

Stablemate Peaceful secured the trail behind Steno while Water Lou who was resuming was taken to the rear of the field by driver Shannon Suvaljko.

Continuing her relentless pace, Steno surged cleared on the final bend and her supporters had no cause for concern as she rattled off a mile rate of 1.52.7 for the 1730 metres. Peaceful was just under 12 metres away in second place while Water Lou was doing her best work at the finish to gather in third.

Apart from the winner the run of Water Lou was full of merit and it was pleasing to see her gathering in the field to finish where she did.

STENO 7 FEB REPLAY

In winning, Steno made it back to back success in the Kennedy Classic as she had prevailed the year before. Raced by prominent breeder Dianne Kelly, Steno did her early racing in New South Wales where she proved her worth by winning the Group 1 APG 3YO Fillies Final at Menangle Park.

Subsequently she was transferred to Western Australia two years ago where she has gone from strength to strength having amassed over $537,000 in her 23 wins.

Driver Jocelyn Young stated:

“That was pretty good. Probably the perfect result really. We found the front easier that I thought and then she just controlled it. She got away with so much and like I said she’s just so fast and its pretty hard for the others to come and beat her when she’s running that in front.”

“As soon as I found the front that easy something had to be wrong to get beat from there.”

“I think I’m just pretty lucky to have her in the stable to be honest. I’m not even sure what’s next. I think there’s a Free For All drawn on sex in a fortnight. We’ll see how she pulls up.”

On the strength of her dazzling speed if she continues to lead in her races Steno will take a lot of running down.

by Tony Milanese, for Harnesslink