Trainer Wendy Kelly knew exactly what she had on her hands when she started working with dual Derby winner Hitotsu.
While some may have been left soured by the experience of losing such a talented horse, Kelly is “very, very proud” of the colt’s achievements since leaving her stable.
Hitotsu left Kelly a three-start maiden galloper and under the care of Ciaron Maher and David Eustace is now a three-time Group 1 winner winning the Victoria Derby, the Australian Guineas and Australian Derby in his past three starts.
“You get a nice horse in your stable and it can go to Hong Kong or the big boys come in and take it out from underneath you, but that’s racing,” Kelly said.
“You can’t dwell on it, you’ve got to move forward.”
Hitotsu had three starts for Kelly as a two-year-old, finishing tenth in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes behind Hitotsu before running sixth to Lightsaber in the Group 2 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Flemington.
Kelly said the offer to owner Kevin Payne after the Sires’ win was too good to ignore, but at the same time she implored Payne to keep a share in the colt.
While Hitotsu has departed, Kelly said she has some nice horses coming through of which Payne has an interest in.
“When they originally made these offers, we made sure Kevin stayed in the horse because we knew how good the horse was going to be,” Kelly said.
“And for the balance, for a maiden, they paid very good money for him.
“My husband Kevin picked him out. He just loved him up there at the Magic Millions through the Arrowfield draft.
“I’m just so happy to see what he is doing now, but I’m not surprised.”
Kelly still sends out her share of winners and will be looking for a nice prize at the inaugural Good Friday meeting at Sale.
Jesta Dreama earned himself a start in the $150,000 Country Trainers Series Final (1500m) after winning a heat at Sandown last week.
“That would probably be one of his best runs so far,” Kelly said of lumping 63.5kg to success.
“He’s always been thereabouts, and you always get 110 per cent out of him when he goes to the races and I’m looking forward to Good Friday with him.”
