TEAM KEARNEY'S DAY TO REMEMBER

THURSDAY: September 11, 2025: MITCH and Desiree Kearney had never started five horses at a race meeting until today.

So when “Old Bug”, better known to racegoers as $1750 bargain buy Lady Shenanigans, won the closer at their home track, the eight-year-old stable stalwart put the polish on an unforgettable day for the popular Hawkesbury couple.

The husband and wife training duo not only clinched a double, but their remaining three runners all ran third in their respective races.

Talented apprentice Mollie Fitzgerald, 24 hours after winning her maiden Sydney race in the last at Canterbury, got Lady Shenanigans ($3.80 co-favorite) home, after overcoming trouble in the straight, in the Fowler Civic Contracting Midway Benchmark 64 Handicap (1100m).

Four races earlier, Rachel King had won the Bachmayer Orthodontic Clinic Super Maiden Handicap (1300m) on $21 outsider Sheeza Diva, who broke through after showing some promise as a two-year-old.

“We went to the track pretty confident Lady Shenanigans would be hard to beat, especially as he loves the soft ground,” Mitch Kearney said this evening.

“Desi felt Sheeza Diva had a good chance as she has been working well, and had blinkers on.

“But to actually win those two races and finish third with our three other runners (Heeza Steve, $31), Share The Joy, $12, and More Voltage, $41) was fantastic.

“It’s a day we will long remember.”

The Kearneys joked that Lady Shenanigans wasn’t just their stable favorite, but everybody’s favorite.

A son of Zoustar, Lady Shenanigans fetched $300,000 as a Gold Coast yearling buy in 2019 before the couple bought him online for a significantly cheaper $1750 in April 2021 when he was put up for sale without ever facing the starter.

“Apart from a couple of foot abscesses, we haven’t had a day of unsoundness with him,” Desiree Kearney said.

“He has big bugsy eyes, and that’s why we call him Old Bug.

“That was his 81^st start today, and his ninth win.”

Along with 21 minor placings, the oddly-named Lady Shenanigans (he is a gelding) has earned nearly $350,000.

Team Kearney didn’t buy Sheeza Diva online, but gave $15,000 for her at last year’s Inglis Classic yearling sale.

The Pierro filly was having only her seventh start – and second this campaign – when she toppled $1.85 hotpot Above The Law, more than doubling her purchase price by earning $28,400 and boosting her prizemoney figure to just over $55,000.

Whilst the Kearneys took the spotlight with their great results, fellow Hawkesbury trainer Jason Attard was also in winning form – for the second time in less than a week at a home meeting.

After winning his first race of the season at Hawkesbury last Saturday with favorite Cryptonic, Attard doubled up by taking the Redbank North Richmond Provincial Maiden Handicap (1500m) with Prefer Diamonds ($7.50).

Ridden by Dylan Gibbons, the five-year-old mare led home a local trifecta, defeating Marc Chevalier’s The Iron Star ($11) and the Kearneys’ Share The Joy.

Whilst Prefer Diamonds is yet to rack up Lady Shenanigans’ earnings, she already has also proven a bargain buy.

Having been bought for only $2000 online in May last year as a late three-year-old who hadn’t raced (but had trialled twice, once at Taree and the other at Beaudesert in Queensland), she has now won nearly $33,000.

“I don’t generally back my horses up, but threw in a nomination for her when rain was forecast,” Attard said.

“Prefer Diamonds had run well at her first two starts since resuming, and I was happy with her third over 1400m on a heavy track at Nowra nine days ago.

“I decided to accept with her on Tuesday morning, the rain arrived and there were only eight runners.

“She is bred to stay and with confidence from that win, I feel she can manage further.

“Winning two races in less than a week is a real good boost for my stable.”

. HOOFNOTE: Well deserved celebrations for Team Kearney will have to wait until Sunday.

The family was headed for football training after loudly cheering Lady Shenanigans home.

Daughter Bella is playing for Hawkesbury in Saturday’s Division 4 rugby league grand final and son Jack, 13, is refereeing the Under 13 grand final.