The Arna Donnelly trained C K Spur
Image | Trish Dunell
Jazmin Alicia’s Legacy Lives On
By Duane Ranger
The 2008 Group Three Northern Breeders Stakes champion, Jazmin Alicia, is still producing winners, despite her breeding days now being a happy memory.
The 18-year-old brown Sundon mare bagged her 11th career win as a Mum when Aflyin Spur (Pegasus Spur) easily won race 11 at Cambridge Raceway last Friday (February 11) – the $10,000 Maiden Trot.
Her Matangi-based co-owner and breeder, Karen de Jongh-Kennedy, said it was inevitable that her breeding career came to an end after she left a dead What The Hill foal in 2020.
“I’ve wound the operation right down, and have sold a lot of stock since Col passed away in November 2010.
“Jazmin Alicia was Col’s favourite and is still very much our family pet,” de Jongh-Kennedy said.
Col Kennedy was a prominent owner and breeder, initially based at Mangatawhiri before he and his wife relocated to Glenbrook in Franklin in 1999.
He was initially involved in galloping but was introduced to harness racing by Ted Hooper and then his first trainer Sandy Purdon, who trained Kennedy’s first winner City Byrd – who won for him at Cambridge Raceway on January 30, 1986.
“Col introduced me to horses and harness racing and I still absolutely love the sport. I’ve been hooked since but sadly it’s time to wind down,” she said.
The couple had been married since 1999 and known each other for 27 years before that. De Jongh-Kennedy said she relocated to Tamahere on September 30, 2016.
“I like it at Matangi. I’ve downsized from 18 to five acres. My new partner Wayne (Eaton) has a couple of horses which are helping him get his amateur licence,” de Jongh-Kennedy said.
Australia-born Kennedy went for one last circuit of his former Glenbrook property when his coffin was pulled by his beloved Jazmin Alicia on November 10, 2010 – six days after his death.
“Col loved Jazmin Alicia and it was appropriate that she carried him in one of his last journeys. She left six foals, but only C K Spur and Aflyin Spur have won races.
As well as her Northern Breeders Stakes win, Jazmin Alicia also placed in the New Zealand Trotting Derby and the Northern Trotting Oaks.
“KC Spur was Jazmin Alicia’s first foal. She qualified in 2016 but broke down soon after. Woodlands Stud have leased her and she’s produced four fillies so far.
“Then after him came CK Spur (2013). He’s been such a wonderful horse. He won nine races in New Zealand and then I sold him to Australia where he’s racing in Victoria. He’s now won 15 times for just under $200,000 in stakes.
De Jongh-Kennedy said Jazmin Alicia lost her next foal, a 2014 Pegasus spur colt named Kazspur, when he was a yearling.
“He was a ‘wobbler’. Since then, ‘Jaz’ left us a 2016- Monarchy filly (Jazmin Royale), who sadly had a track accident and had to be put down just as she was ready to qualify.
Then along came the second to last foal, the 2017 Pegasus Spur colt, Aflyin Spur. The last one is the 2018 Creatine colt, Rock On Jazz. He’s just gone back into work and Todd (Mitchell) really likes him. We hope he’s the goods like his brothers.
“We are hoping he is the goods. We gave him six months off because he was a very big 2-year-old who needed time,” de Jongh-Kennedy said.
She said Aflyin Spur had the potential to match C K Spur on ability.
“If we can sort his tricks out then he could go a long way. I know Todd has been doing a bit of the behind the scenes work with my trainer, Arna (Donnelly). Todd has done a great job handling him and offering advice like half hopples etcetera.
“We all know he has raw talent. When he learns to get things completely right in his races then more wins should come,” de Jongh-Kennedy said.
“I like the way he won. He did it easy (four-and-a-half lengths) and came home in 30.2,” she added.
Even though de Jongh-Kennedy isn’t breeding any more, she still has four race-horses. They are Aflyin Spur (2 wins), Rock On Jazz, Kracka Shardon, and KC’s Princess (currently in work).
“They latter three are all 3-years-old now and when they finish racing, I’ll step away from ownership as well, and just watch and support my partner, Wayne,” de Jongh-Kennedy said.