Kyvalley Ray Ends NZ Campaign On A High

Rising trotting star Kyvalley Ray (NZ) (Bold Eagle) ended a lucrative eight month New Zealand campaign on a high at Alexandra Park last Friday when blitzing his opposition in the Group One Breckon Farms Northern Trotting Derby (2700m).

His Melbourne-based trainer Brent Lilley elected to return to New Zealand with the colt last September, citing the good prizemoney on offer, and the $100,000 NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sale purchase has hardly put a foot wrong since, winning six of his eight starts, including three at Group One level.

He is unbeaten in all three of his starts at Alexandra Park and Lilley couldn’t have been happier with last Friday night’s result.

“He still doesn’t look 100 percent happy this way (right-handed), he is still a big baby really, but on raw ability he is great,” Lilley said.

While Kyvalley Ray has now returned to Australia, Lilley said he will likely return to New Zealand at the end of the year.

“All going well, we have got the Victorian Derby on the first of November and then we will come over for the Cup meeting, another trip over will be great,” he said.

One Kiwi who will welcome his return is driver Blair Orange, who has been in the sulky in all of his starts in New Zealand, and while he said Kyvalley Ray still has plenty of maturing to do, he has come a long way in his time in New Zealand.

“He has matured a lot and is getting the all-round game,” Orange said. “He is still not quite there yet, he still has a couple of steering issues, but he really loved the 2700m tonight and he felt like he could have gone another lap.”

Bred by Phil Williamson, Kyvalley Ray is by Champion French trotter Bold Eagle and out of Group Three winner and 2018-19 New Zealand 4YO Trotting Mare of the Year Kenny’s Dream.

Kyvalley Ray has now won eight of his 12 starts and he has earned more than $321,000 in prizemoney.