Kendrick set to spoil close friend Coome's retirement plans

By Glenn Davis

Sunshine Coast trainer Stuart Kendrick is poised to rain on close friend Adrian Coome’s racing farewell at Doomben on Wednesday.

Coome announced this week he was quitting training to take up a position working in the mines at Blackwater in Central Queensland, ending a star-studded career as a jockey and trainer.

Kendrick has known Coome since his days training at Mackay 15 years ago and saddles up Menazzi against Coome’s final runner Enuff He Said in the Benchmark 75 Handicap over 1660 metres.

“I’ve known Adrian since I was training up in Mackay 15 years ago and we’re good mates,” Kendrick said.

“Whenever I send a horse to run in Rockhampton, Adrian looks after them up there and vice versa when he sends one down here.”

Kendrick is looking after Enuff He Said while Coome scales down his operation in Rockhampton and has high expectations with Menazzi.

Menazzi is coming off a last start win over 1600 metres on his home track on August 20 which ended a 17-month losing streak since his previous victory at Eagle Farm in March last year.

Kendrick had a big opinion of Menazzi as a younger horse before his career was derailed by injuries.

He paid $85,000 for Menazzi as a yearling primarily on his athletic looks and has claimed $152,000 in prize money with four wins and five placings form 20 starts.

“He’s had a few setbacks during his career but he’s fit and going well now,” Kendrick said.

“He had a serious splint bone problem early on and then he tore a muscle in his chest which pit him out for a while.

“He promised a lot as a three-year-old and was placed in the Daybreak Lover before he suffered a few more problems.

“It’s just like humans, the older we get the more problems we develop and it takes its toll eventually.”

Kendrick has booked apprentice Bailey Wheeler to ride Menazzi while Jake Bayliss will partner Enuff He Said.

Enuff He Said has won four times in 21 starts.

Enuff He Said was sent to Brisbane and at his last start he finished third to Sheza Firecracker in a 1600 metre Benchmark race at Eagle Farm on August 12.

The five-year-old son of Rich Enuff originally hails from Victoria and was impressive winning at Mackay in May and Rockhampton in June.