The locally bred Kayteeoh Denario qualified for the harness racing Southern Belle Speed Series when she won at Wyndham today.

Bred and raced by Mark and Pauline O'Connor of Myross Bush the four year old mare is named after the couple's second daughter Katelyn Therese O'Connor who had her birthday on Friday.

"She works in Auckland for ANZ at the Foreign Exchange desk and we've just caught up with her in Central. I said to her it could be a good omen having her birthday and the horse running today," said Mark. "I said to all the kids that once they got into full time employment I'd name a horse after them. She was the first into the workforce out of the four kids." 

Kayteeoh Denario is by Rocknroll Hanover and after being developed by Wayne Adams at two and three, was transferred to Regan Todd's stable at Woodend Beach. 

"She did brush a knee so we thought her best chance if she was to make it being a broodmare was to send her up to Regan on the beach. He's worked her in a straight line and doesn't have the hopples or spreaders on her. She does need the spreaders on race day." 

In yesterday's race Dexter Dunn trialled early before taking up the lead in the 1609 metre event. She held on to beat RR Sand Dollar by a length and a quarter with Break Dance a neck back in third. The Mark Jones trained Aymar was unlucky sitting hard on the back of the winner. The winning time was 1-54.9.  

Kayteeoh Denario and Dexter Dunn holding out RR Sand Dollar (7)         Photo Bruce Stewart.

"He'd (Regan Todd) targeted the Southern Belle Speed Series to try and get a time for her and give her that broodmare opportunity. It's nice when a plan comes together and it all works out."

Having won this heat Kayteeoh Denario is now ineligible to run in any other heats in the series. The $20,000 final is at Winton on the 9th April. 

"We'll just keep her ticking over and bring her down for the final."

Kayteeoh Denario is out of the Presidential Ball mare Goodtogo Denario which is a full sister to Spero Denario which won ten races for Cran Dalgety. 

"She (Goodtogo Denario) won first up at the races and looked real smart but developed an attitude problem. We tried her a few more times and she didn't really show much so we retired her to breed from. We leased her to Woodlands Stud for a couple of seasons. She's dropped a colt to Sweet Lou this spring and is going back to him then we get her back after that."

The O'Connors have a Well Said two year old colt called Nota Bene Denario which is currently located at Nigel McGrath's stable.  

"We actually had him on a 50/50 deal with a guy called Dylan Stratford but he's relocated to Australia so we've taken the horse back and we'll push on. He'll go to Regan's stable." 

Regan Todd holds Kayteeoh Denario for Mark and Pauline O'Connor    –    Photo Bruce Stewart

The O'Connor's attention now switches to the Sale of The Stars where they have three yearlings being put through their final paces before sale day on the 21st and 22nd February.

One colt they're excited about is Lot 288 Ronnie Pickering who is by Art Major out of Shezaball the winner of eight races. 

"He's the best yearling we've had the chance to prepare. He looks to me to be the perfect package. He's a big strong guy, mature and sensible and well conformed. We're so pleased with this bloke that we've taken the mare back to Art Major."

He is Shezaball's second foal. Her first, Rockaball, recently qualified for Ken and Tony Barron. 

Bruce Stewart
Southland Harness Racing