Kyvalley Ray Goes Back-to-Back in Harness Million Trot

Australian raider Kyvalley Ray (NZ) (Bold Eagle) continued to plunder New Zealand spoils at Alexandra Park last Friday when taking out the Listed NZB Standardbred 3YO Trotters Harness Million Mobile Trot (2200m), his second Harness Million Trot victory.

Bred by trotting maestro 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.

He was offered at the 2024 NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sale by Ms BA Williamson where he was purchased by Kyvalley Racing for $100,000, and subsequently joined Brent Lilley’s Victorian barn.

Following two wins in his adopted homeland, Lilley elected to send Kyvalley Ray back across the Tasman to chase the good prizemoney on offer, and he has made it a lucrative trip since returning to New Zealand shores last September.

Kyvalley Ray has added four further wins to his tally, including the Group One Sires’ Stakes Series 2YO Championship (1980m), Listed NZB Standardbred 3YO Trotters Harness Million Mobile Trot (2200m), and Listed NZB Standardbred Harness Million 2YO Mobile Trot (2200m), and he was also runner-up in the Group Three “The Sundon” 2YO Mobile Trot (1980m).

Driven in all of his New Zealand starts by Blair Orange, the leading reinsman was pleased to return to the winners’ circle with Kyvalley Ray on Friday but he said he still has plenty of maturing to do.

“He raced a bit fierce tonight, which he doesn’t normally do,” Orange said. “It was probably a bit my fault because I gave him a bit of a run along in the warm up and it just fired him up a bit.

“He felt really strong the whole way and he won it quite nicely.

“He was a wee bit funny as a juvenile back in Australia and the racing has brought him on a bit, he is maturing every time I sit behind him. He is not the complete package yet but when he does get there he is going to be a lovely horse going forward.”

Kyvalley Ray has now won six of his 10 starts and has earned more than $197,000 in prizemoney.

 

Vendor	Ms BA Williamson
Purchaser	Kyvalley Racing
Owner(s)	J W Connelly, S Maxwell
Breeding	Bold Eagle - Kenny's Dream
Sale	2024 NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sale, Christchurch ($100,000)
Breeder(s)	P M Williamson