HAWKESBURY COUPLE’S SECOND SHOT AT INGLIS PINK BONUS

WILL it be second time lucky?

Hawkesbury husband and wife trainers Mitch and Desiree Kearney through a mix-up missed out on snaring a $400,000 Pink Bonus with their filly Sheeza Diva at last year’s Inglis Millennium at Royal Randwick.

But they’re back this year – and there are no mess-ups this time with Oh Yes She Did in Saturday’s $2m feature for two-year-olds at headquarters.

However, whereas Sheeza Diva would have collected the $400,000 even though she finished 13^th, this time it’s different.

Only three youngsters (all fillies) - Oh Yes She Did, Profitabelle and New Zealander Lassified – are eligible for the Pink Bonus, but have to win the race.

If the first eligible horse runs second or third, 50 per cent of the bonus will be paid, and 10 per cent will be paid if the first eligible horse finishes fourth or worse.

Co-trainer Desiree Kearney says all is in readiness for Yes Yes Yes filly Oh Yes She Did, for whom good friend Daniel Springfield paid $240,000 during a buying spree at last year’s Inglis Classic yearling sale in Sydney.

“Daniel bought 15 yearlings last year at the Inglis, Australian Easter and HTBA sales in Sydney,” Mrs Kearney said.

“This filly (Oh Yes She Did) is eligible for the Pink Bonus.

“For a horse to be eligible, they have to be 75 per cent owned by females.

“Bill Lovatt bred Oh Yes She Did from his I Am Invincible mare Lanikai, and being keen to stay in her, bought back a share for his wife.”

Team Kearney after securing Oh Yes She Did at Inglis

Oh Yes She Did was sent for a spell, with the Millennium in mind, after an excellent debut fourth in the Group 3 Gimcrack Stakes (1000m) at Randwick on October 4 last year.

She resumed when eighth to Satin Summer in a 2YO Handicap (1000m) there on January 24, albeit the Kearneys had contemplated trialling her twice instead to tackle the Millennium first-up.

“Thankfully she earned enough prizemoney ($3500) that day to get her a start in the Millennium,” Desiree Kearney said.

“Daniel’s fiancée Jas Banks (the couple plan to marry later in the year) is the managing owner of Oh Yes She Did.

“It is a thrill to have the filly in the race, and terrific for Daniel and Jas after buying so many yearlings last year.”

Reece Jones will ride $61 shot Oh Yes She Did, and Desiree Kearney doesn’t see the filly’s wide draw as a disadvantage.

“Obviously there will be plenty of speed in the race, and it should set up nicely for our filly,” Mrs Kearney said.

“Hopefully she will be able to finish over the top of them.”

Team Kearney came home from last month’s Magic Millions sales with a further five yearlings; four purchased by Daniel Springfield and the fifth by another client.

Leading Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup claimed his 32^nd winner of the season – and the local training base’s 94^th– when Ausbred Hed’N’Tail ($1.85 favorite) made a successful debut at Gosford today.

Ridden by Tommy Berry, Ausbred HedN’Tail had a good battle with Newcastle second favorite Wan Lost ($4) in the Provincial Maiden Plate (1200m) before getting the upper hand in the closing stages.

The Saxon Warrior three-year-old was bred by his owner Chris Lawlor from his Shinko King mare Barinka, who died just over 12 months ago.

“Ausbred Hed’N’Tail is a well mannered colt,” Widdup said this evening.

“We have taken our time with him, and it was good to see him get the job done at his first start.

“There’s no doubt he is going to get further, especially on a bigger track.”

Gosford (Jake Hull) and Newcastle (Nathan Doyle) trainers also were winners at Gosford.

Hull’s talented sprinter Ferinzo ($2.10 favorire), ridden by Josh Parr, took another important step in his brief career to date when he downed city winner Astronomix ($2.50) in the CG&E Benchmark 64 Handicap (1100m), whilst Doyle’s Mercy Me ($3.30), with Regan Bayliss aboard, easily the fillies and mares’ Benchmark 64 over the same distance.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, FEBRUARY 5, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS/INGLIS