Juniors Continue To Salute With Lachlan Kennelly Breaking Through For First Win

What a week it’s been for junior drivers, with Kylah Madden scoring her first winning drive on Saturday at Albany, and New Years Eve at Bunbury continued to deliver the goods, with Lachlan Kennelly breaking through for his first win at just his second attempt.

“It was so good last night, the nerves were definitely there a lot more than the first drive as the plan was to come out and lead so in my mind there was a lot more to think about with rating times, etc.”

Tasked with the job on Petes Honour for trainer Jemma Hayman, the first up win was even more special for the 20-year-old junior, who works for the Jemross stable full time.

“In the back of my mind when I got to the lead and being able to see what times I had run going past the big screen, I knew we definitely had a great shot with plenty left in the tank,

“But around the 300m mark looking back with the field four wide, I just pulled the plus and off he went.

“We would have been 50m from the post and I could hear Jemma up on the hill and I was over the moon, not only to win my second drive, and have a 50% win rate.” He joked.

“But to win on a Jemross horse that I’ve put a lot of work into in our everyday working day was just the cherry on top.”

Kennelly, who didn’t come from an equestrian background at all, made his way to the stables of Bayley Thomas as a young teen and after learning to ride found a love for standardbreds, eventually making his way to Jemma Hayman and Ross Olivieri where he made his driving debut.

Lachlan Kennelly made his trial debut in February 2024 and ‘graduated’ from trials in recent weeks, and the ride has been an enjoyable one.

“It’s been a really great process so far, from starting out in the industry two years ago knowing nothing to where I got to last night (Tuesday, December 31) was surreal.

“I’ve definitely been extremely lucky with everyone with everyone that I’ve met along the way that have helped me get to the point where I’m at.” 

Ashleigh Paikos

Image: Photography by Jodie Hallows