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Melbourne-based businessman James Kennedy is the newest Everest slot holder and the executive chairman of one of Australia’s legacy luxury watches and jewelry businesses.
Kennedy invested significantly to establish his own racing group with Pakenham-based trainer Caroline Jennings and private jockey. Kennedy hopes to revitalise traditional thoroughbred racing techniques through the implementation of Monty Roberts’ welfare focused methodology.
Roberts traversed the sales grounds of Australia, working as an advisor to help Kennedy select the horses which were going to be at the vanguard of the Kennedy Racing's imprint on Australian racing.
Irish-born trainer Caroline Jennings has been delivering successes for Kennedy Racing purchases with both Arabian Hussey and Written Miss recording recent metropolitan victories.
In an exclusive with Everest Diaries, James Kennedy provides a glimpse into his vision for their Everest contender as well as his reasons for marrying the Kennedy Racing brand with The Everest and shares his earliest racing memory.
Q: What were your deciding factors when you decided to become an Everest slot holder?
A: It was an appealing opportunity on two fronts. An Everest Slot can be seen in the manner it is used by the other slot holders, can be for the benefit of a corporation looking to promote their brand, or for the racing fraternity, owners and trainers, looking to target the richest race on turf. For me, I am in the unique position of being able to benefit on both fronts, promoting and using the slot to communicate my Luxury Retail group Kennedy, as well as looking to gain a result on behalf of my thoroughbred business Kennedy Racing by targeting the world’s richest sprint race.
Q: As the owner of Kennedy Racing what are your key areas of consideration for your contender? What are you hoping for in the horse that represents your team?
A: Allow me to answer in reverse order here. My hope for the horse that represents me, is that it wins. Ideally, I would love one of my own horses to be able to fill the spot, but the priority must be to fill the sport with a horse that can be competitive and can win. In consideration of the proposed contender, whether it be a horse of my own or someone else’s, must be formed. The Everest is a high-quality field, trying to compete at that level without the right form going in and irrespective of the horse’s historical ability is a big ask. You want a horse with the right pedigree and with the right form at the right time going into the race. In that regard, I will not be rushing my decision at all, it will be very considered, and I will take all the time I have to make the call. Don’t be surprised if it’s an 11th-hour call on who my selection will be.
Q: With Caroline Jennings at the helm of affairs at Kennedy Racing, where do you see Kennedy Racing in the next ten years?
A: Kennedy Racing is ultimately a passion for me, as opposed to, what I am normally used to, a business built around turning high profits. We have been fortunate to have quite early success. Anyone in racing will tell you, winning is hard. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, building the Kennedy Racing business. We have come a long way in the last two and half years having built what we have, from literally nothing. With moving into our Flemington stables in August, we are continuing to build on a quality infrastructure with a talented trainer, strong team and quality roster of horses. I always believe in the evolution of anything comes organically and by circumstance. We have had some great results with some of our young fillies, so perhaps Kennedy Racing will evolve into including a breeding arm in its operation one day. But in any event, the future looks very bright.
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Q: The Everest has already completed its first half-decade, according to you, what is the most exciting thing for you about Everest 2021?
A: It's a success! Peter V’Landys delivered on a vision, and that’s the key – anyone can have an idea, it’s the execution that requires the hunger and skill – and has revolutionised thoroughbred racing in this country and has elevated the sport. It’s a great race, it has positioned Australia, no different to the Melbourne Cup, at the forefront of thoroughbred racing.
Q: What excites you about the marriage between luxury goods and racing at the highest level?
A: Racing is the ‘Sport of Kings’…and I think that says it all. Racing is experiential and therein lies the most integral piece of the association. Luxury retailing is much more than just the transactional relationship of selling a product or service to someone, it’s about the exclusivity, service and experience that comes with that purchase. Racing is such a spectacle, it’s so inclusive and offers so much in the form of entertainment and interaction, it’s a perfect correlation of the two industries.
Q: Please tell us about your earliest racing memory?
A: The only bets I could ever make as a kid, we're on the Melbourne Cup. Since as far back as I can remember, my dad used to take me, on that first Tuesday in November, to the local TAB before school. I’d spend the night before researching the newspaper (no internet in those days) and give my dad the picks so he could put the bets on for me. One Win ticket and one Trifecta. And what an experience it was and how lucky I was…I have had the trifecta three times, which included the year Let’s Elope and Rogan Josh won.
Q: Which is your favourite racehorse, race day and racecourse of all time? Why?
A: As far as racehorses go, I love all of mine. However, to pick one as a standout for all the history of racing, I’d probably say Makybe Diva…three Melbourne Cups, you’re just likely never to see anything like that again. Hard to pick any on Raceday, but these days I’d have to say the Kennedy Oaks. And as far as racecourses go, given I am a proud Melburnian, you simply can’t go past Flemington.
Q: What are you currently reading?
A: Financial Statements and Contracts…not by choice, but these days it’s hard to find the time for a good book. But I have read in recent times, Shoe Dog. The book is about the story of Nike founder Phil Knight...and it’s worth a read.