Warren Kennedy
South African horse racing jockey (born 1980)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Warren Brian Kennedy is a South African horse racing jockey currently riding in New Zealand. He was Champion Jockey in South Africa for the 2019/20 and 2021/22 seasons and in New Zealand for the 2023/24 season.
| |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 14 April 1980 Durban, South Africa |
| Occupation | Jockey |
| Horse racing career | |
| Sport | Horse racing |
| Major racing wins | |
| Thekwini Stakes (2019) SA Fillies Classic (2020) Gold Challenge (2020) Woolavington 2000 (2020) Allan Robertson Championship (2020) Summer Cup (2020) Empress Club Stakes (2021) | |
| Significant horses | |
| Summer Pudding, Rainbow Bridge, Vernichey, Gabor | |
| Updated on 17 August 2020 | |
He has won Group 1 races in South Africa and in New Zealand.
Riding career
Kennedy attended the South African Jockey Academy in 1995 when he was 14 years old. He became a qualified rider in 2000. Kennedy won the National Apprentice title in his final year.[1]
His first race win came on board Coded Missile for trainer Nic Claasen at Fairview on 15 May 1998. It was a chance ride as the trainer's stable jockey fell ill. The race was the Lady Pedant Stakes, and being a listed race, Kennedy received no apprentice claim.[2]
His first Grade 1 victory came on board Gabor in the Thekwini Stakes at Hollywoodbets Greyville. Other Group 1 wins include the Summer Cup with Summer Pudding, the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge with Rainbow Bridge, and the Allan Robertson Championship with Vernichey.[3] He also rode Triple Tiara winner Summer Pudding to victory in the Grade 1 SA Fillies Classic, the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas, and the Grade 1 Woolavington 2000.
In 2022 Kennedy moved to New Zealand where he was engaged by Byerley Park founder and Director Daniel Nakhle and managed by former Gauteng-based jockey Donavan Mansour.[4] Kennedy quickly achieved race day wins.[5]
Major New Zealand winning rides
- 2022 Zabeel Classic (G1) with Defibrillate for Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall[6]
- 2023 Karaka Million 3YO Classic (Listed 1600m) with Prowess for Roger James and Robert Wellwood.[7]
- 2023 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (G1) with Crocetti for Danny Walker and Arron Tata [8]
- 2024 Railway Stakes (G1 1200m) with Waitak for Lance O'Sullivan & Andrew Scott[9]
- 2024 New Zealand Oaks (G1) with Pulchritudinous for Chad Ormsby.[10][11]
- 2024 Livamol Classic (G1) with Snazzytavi for Graham Richardson & Rogan Norvall[12][13]
- 2024 Zabeel Classic (G1) with Snazzytavi for Graham Richardson & Rogan Norvall[14]
- 2025 Railway Stakes (G1) with Crocetti for Danny Walker & Arron Tata[15][16]