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Jockey Matthew Kellady can do no wrong at the moment as the in-form rider notched his eighth winner in just seven weeks when he steered debutant One United to victory in The Qantas Stakes on Friday.
The Australian-bred galloper had to work for the lead in the early stages of the $75,000 Restricted Maiden race over 1000m as Picasso (Mark Ewe) put him under some pressure.
But once One United seized the advantage he refused to relinquish it and maintained that winning position until the line, finishing a comfortable two-and-three-quarters clear of the David Kok-trained gelding.
Favourite Iconnic (Nooresh Juglall) never found his rhythm and finished third, another length-and-a-half back. The winning time on the Polytrack was a brisk 59.98secs.
Also flying of late has been Kellady, whose early season struggles (it took him until May 2 to visit the winner’s circle) have been all but forgotten thanks to this recent purple patch which included his maiden Group victory last month aboard the Shane Baertschiger-trained One Rar.
“This is probably the best I’ve ridden in years,” said the Ipoh-born hoop, who has now recorded 12 victories, a 150 per cent improvement on last season’s tally of just eight winners.
Such sparkling form has not gone unnoticed, with trainer John O’Hara booking Kellady, who would go on to collect his first winner for the Singaporean handler, to partner his three-year-old brown gelding on his Kranji bow.
The son of U S Ranger had a quiet trial in late July and the lack of optimism in his chances was reflected in the lukewarm support of $75. But O’Hara had been cautiously confident and that was filtered to his pilot.
“The instructions were simple,” said Kellady. “They just wanted me to let him jump wherever he wanted and if he was at the back then that was okay. But he jumped very nicely and we were quite close to the front early on.”
With none of the other seven horses putting him under any sustained pressure, One United was able to maintain his uncontested lead and even found an extra gear over the final furlong to pull away for what was a sensational display.
“Once I got to the top of the straight I just picked him up and let him finish and that’s exactly what he did,” said Kellady. “He’s still quite a green horse and definitely is going to improve the more he races.”
Owned by the One United Stable, the debut victory by their brown galloper was worth around $42,000 in stakes earnings for the delighted connections.