NZ Trotting Derby on cards for Kyvalley Ray

By Adam Hamilton  

Reigning New Zealand 2YO Trotter of the Year Kyvalley Ray is nearing a racetrack return.

Already a winner of five major races, most recently the Northern Trotting Derby, Kyvalley Ray is back in Victoria with trainer Brent Lilley.

But there’s a big chance he will return to chase more feature races glory in NZ later this year in the NZ Trotting Derby (November 20).

For now, Lilley has his sights set on two major targets in Victoria.

“I couldn’t be happier with him. He’s only a week or so off a trial. He’ll have a second trial and then go straight into the heats of the Need For Speed series on September 25,” he said.

The Kiwi-bred Kyvalley Ray started his career in Australia with four starts netting two wins, but gelding him transformed the horse and he went on a rampage in NZ, winning six of his eight starts across two campaigns.

He has been the standout trotter in NZ at two and three.

When Kyvalley Ray returns for the Need For Speed heats, it will be his first start in Australia for 13 months.

But there are plenty more in store.

“After the Need For Speed final, he’s got the heats and final of the Victoria Derby.

“Then we’ve got a decision to make, go back to NZ for the (NZ) Trotting Derby or stay here for the Breeders Crown in December.

“Jim (Connelly, owner) is quite keen to take him back to NZ in November, but we’ll see how he gets through the two big targets here first.

“It'll be a busy finish to the year, but he had a really good break after those big wins in Auckland (in May). He had about seven or eight weeks out.

“And there’s not a lot of big races for four-year-old trotters except the Great Square in Brisbane, so next year will be pretty quiet for him.”

Lilley is confident Kyvalley Ray will make the transition from star youngster to major open-class player.

“You never know until they actually do it, but I’d be very surprised if he didn’t,” he said.

“He’s very tough. He didn’t really handle the opposite way of racing in Auckland, but his ability and his strength got him through. Blair (Orange, driver) kept saying how strong he felt, especially at the end of the 2700m of the Northern Derby at his most recent run (May 8).

“He’s also by Bold Eagle and all the experts you talk to are stunned he’s been so good so early. They say most of the Bold Eagles are three-and-a-half before they really start to get going.

“Hopefully that’s another thing that’ll stand him in good stead.”