Laura McKay gets biggest training win

By Mike Love 

Russley trainer Laura McKay has had her biggest training win to date, with Birdy's victory in Sunday's $25,000 Hydroflow Silk Road Fillies and Mares Final at Addington.  

“I’m really, really stoked. A very satisfying win. Nice to win a good stake race,” said McKay. 

“It’s been a long road with her. Even though her form looked pretty poor, that's been because she’s missed away, and things were not really going right. But after her fourth at Ashburton, I thought she’d be good enough to win. Blair (Orange) gave her a beautiful trip.”

Orange went straight back from their wide draw, sitting three back the outside. With a solid tempo, Birdy and Orange tracked race favourite Wanna Play A Game into the race before swooping with a perfectly timed run, winning by a half-a-head at the line. 

McKay has had her work cut out for her with the five-year-old Royal Aspirations mare. 

“Her muscle tie up can be her main issue, and I just think that if she burns early in her races, I just don't think she can do it again in the race.

“She’s so fast away from the stand when she steps, but we think now she’s probably better driven for one run. She’s got a bit of high speed.”

And this will likely be the tactic for Birdy in the near future, including this Friday night at Addington when she backs up in Race 3, the Gallagher Insurance Mobile Trot (5.57pm), with Orange in the sulky.

“I thought we’d just go because I’d prefer to go in mobiles, and there aren’t many really coming up. It’ll be a harder race this week. There's a few smart ones in there, but she’s a good follower of speed, so she could be a place chance. So after this Friday she probably won't race for a few weeks after that.”

Birdy, who was bred by Martin Denton, and now raced by the Dentons and McKay, is now the winner of three from 14. He is the younger sister to Sigrid, a winner of one race, and four placings from just six starts before breaking down.

The nearly 10-year association between Denton and McKay started with a phone call from McKay looking for a drive at Forbury Park. 

“I rang Marty to drive one of his horses at Forbury, and then he asked me if I'd come down each week to drive, so I agreed to that, and he kept me on. Then when he was retiring from training and I had just started out training, he said to me he’d send a horse to train. And so Sigrid was the first one. From then on he’s kept sending them up. I’ve got Birdy’s younger brother, a two-year-old, he will need some time.” 

McKay now owns Sigrid. 

“He (Denton) gifted Sigrid to me to breed from, so I have a King Of The North filly that’s just been weaned.” 

“And I have Ruthless Success in foal to Marcoola, and her two-year-old What The Hill filly that I’ve just turned out that goes okay.” 

McKay works her team alongside Steve Dolan, who she works for.

McKay has now trained nine winners, and earned over $100,000 in stakes.