Frith set to maintain unbeaten Young record

Frith is no stranger to the Young Paceway and will be out to record her fifth harness racing victory on the circuit when she competes in this Saturday night’s Group 3 Cordina Chicken Farms Young Cup.  Frith won last year’s Cup in track record time and while owner Bernie Kelly is expecting another strong showing this weekend, he hasn’t always been so confident of her performing well on the half mile track.

“Frith has won all of her four starts on the track but I remember she had her first start in a race at Young and I had two in the race and thought my other one The Baggy Green was my better chance,” Kelly said.

“Bruce (Harpley) drove The Baggy Green and she started second favourite while Frith was driven by Jake Stockton and started about $10, if only we knew how good she was going to be when she made her debut.”

Kelly has confirmed there are no immediate plans to retire Frith and will take plenty of advice from Belinda and Luke McCarthy.

“I wouldn’t think about retiring her until the end of next season but she’ll tell us with the way she is racing and obviously what Belinda and Luke have to say will have a big bearing on how much longer she races for.

“I wouldn’t mind taking her to Perth for the Inter Dominion later this year but again I’ll speak with Belinda and Luke to see what they think and if she is ready to be thrown in the deep end against the boys.”

Frith became the seventh pacing mare in the southern hemisphere to win more than $1 million when she won the Ladyship Mile at Tabcorp Park Menangle last start.  Other mares to have achieved the feat include Adore Me, Tailamade Lombo, Blossom Lady, Miss Galvinator, Fleur De Lil and Bettor Cover Lover.

“She’s my first millionaire, Lady Waratah won more than $500,000, Greg Kelly might have given a million a shake if he hadn’t had his problems and Albert Kelly won over $300,000 too.”

Frith’s mother Jackie Kelly is currently in foal to Bettor's Delight and there is also a filly foal by Bettors Delight that was born as the result of an embryonic transfer.

“It was getting so late that we just decided to take an embryo from Jackie Kelly early last year and put it in a surrogate mare.  That gave Jackie Kelly plenty of time to get in foal this season and everything has gone well so far.”

Saturday night’s Cordina Chicken Farms Young Cup is also another leg in this season’s Carnival Of Cups bonus series with $20,000 on offer to connections of the leading horses over six feature races.  Current series leader Condagen will miss this weekend’s event and is competing at Menangle on Friday afternoon instead.

Greg Hayes