Image: Jeff Hanson.
In the space of eight days, Tim Donnelly’s reinvigorated stayer County Kilkenny has landed two impressive victories.
The six-year-old Fast Company gelding, supported from $5.50 into $4.60, took on the Stayers Cup at Narrandera on July 12 and, under the urgings of apprentice Dale Cole, found the front and made every post a winner – triumphing in the Benchmark 66 Handicap by 1.63 lengths.
On the quick back-up at Wagga on Monday and racing as the $3.90 second favourite on his home track, County Kilkenny was again leading the pack for Cole and, despite taking on some in-form types, couldn’t be run down; win in the Riverina Cup Prelude (2000m) Benchmark 74 Handicap.
“He’s actually done really well the last couple of runs,” Donnelly said.
“At Narrandera we had drawn the outside, and at the previous meeting, you had to be on the fence to lead, so the plan was to go forward from that draw.
“He settled better in front at Narrandera; he has always been a bit keen, but he was better there, and it worked, so we did it again at Wagga.”
A Horse Rediscovering His Best
Prior to his Narrandera victory, the Wagga galloper had endured 16 months between wins, with his previous success coming in the $50,000 Albury Mile in March 2025.
A metropolitan winner who has also placed in the Forbes Cup among other races, there is no doubting County Kilkenny’s ability, and it was the candid feedback of jockey Matthew Cahill that prompted Donnelly to reassess his approach.
After County Kilkenny finished fourth in a 1600m Benchmark 82 Handicap at Albury on June 21, Cahill’s assessment proved to be the turning point.
“When he ran in that mile race at Albury, Matt Cahill said he was dour, and on those heavy tracks, they struggle making up ground,” Donnelly said.
“I thought, bugger it, we’ll step him up in distance.”
Riverina Cup the Target
The Riverina Cup – a 2500m feature at Wagga on August 9 – is now firmly on the radar for the seven-time winner, with Donnelly keen to manage his charge carefully in the lead-up.
“The Riverina Cup is in three weeks, and that works for him,” Donnelly said.
“He’s had three runs in two weeks; I don’t want to go to the well too often, and we’ll wait for the Riverina Cup.”
Should County Kilkenny salute on August 9, connections may find themselves weighing up some loftier ambitions.
“He’s won in the city, and he’s a nice horse, but essentially he’s a hot horse and really best in the autumn and winter,” Donnelly said.
“If he wins the Riverina Cup, that’s probably him done in the country, and we’ll have to weigh up whether we look at races in the city.”
