3 minute read
“If you succeed at first, try, try again” is an adjustment to a hackneyed phrase that epitomises young Pearcedale trainer, Kayla Cottrell.
The 21-year-old is attempting to win her second Rookie Rebel. She snared her first with Fernando Cazz in 2021.
A year earlier, her mum, Janet, claimed the race with Perfect Marshall.
Cottrell has Succeed (Box 3) in the $113,500 Sportsbet Rookie Rebel (600m) – Race 6, 8.23pm – at The Meadows on Saturday night.
Succeed (Feb '21 Fernando Bale x Naughty Cazza) – a younger full-brother of Fernando Cazz – snared last week's Rookie Rebel Prelude in 34.66sec.
Subsequently he's handy in fixed odds betting at $8, behind 'Tassie devil' Fast Minardi (Box 1, $3.50F), Cain Bale (Box 2, $3.90) and 'middle distance magician' Hector Fawley (Box 5, $4).
"Succeed is a quality animal," Cottrell said. "It's just a matter of him having his mind on the job and doing everything right."
Cottrell is happy with Succeed having drawn the 'white' alley in the $75,000 to-the-winner invitational event.
"It's just a matter of him having his mind on the job and doing everything right."
"I wanted 'three' or 'four'. He's drawn the 'car park' in his past couple of races.
"I'm hoping he comes out running. He can put the times on the board, but it'll be just a case of his mindset on the night.
"However, his run in the Prelude was super. He showed another side to him, being able to come from behind."
Succeed endured a five-month racing hiatus from late July to late December last year.
He sustained an injury finishing second, beaten 2.4L, to Ailee Bale (34.00sec) in a Mixed 4/5 (595m) at Sandown Park. Incredibly, he still clocked 34.16sec.
"He was lame when we got him home," Cottrell explained. "X-rays confirmed he had a hairline fracture of the right hock."
Since resuming, Succeed has had eight starts for two wins, two seconds and two thirds. Overall, his record reads: 26 starts for 11 wins, six seconds and four thirds with $80,100 in prizemoney.
Succeed finished runner-up to Make No Promise, with Hector Fawley third, in last month's Listed Maidment Memorial (595m) at Sandown Park.
He was second to Hector Fawley (33.64sec), beaten 2.3L and recording 33.80sec, on Cottrell's 21stbirthday on April 20 last year at SP.
Four days earlier, he semaphored a 33.80sec win at SP. In fact, he's a three-time sub-34sec winner at SP and has also registered a 34.10sec victory over 600m at The Meadows.
And Cottrell believes Succeed is in a similar vein of form.
"He's right up there in terms of ability with 'Cazz'. But race wise you just don't know what you're going to get with him."
The sheer mention of Fernando Cazz prompted Cottrell to reminisce on arguably her greatest moment in the sport.
"It (2021 Rookie Rebel win) was just pure adrenaline and took a few days to sink in. It still gives me goosebumps, and it's exciting I'm back again to contest the race with a younger brother of 'Cazz'."
Another 'moment in the sun' for Cottrell was Fernando Bluey – a litter brother of Fernando Cazz – finishing an agonisingly close second to WA superstar Tommy Shelby in the 2021 G1 Australian Cup.
Fernando Bluey led everywhere but the post and went down by a 'cigarette paper' (0.06L).
Pawnote: Kayla Cottrell was the recipient of the prestigious Ned Bryant 'Silver Fox' award – formerly known as the 'Young Trainer of the Year' award – in 2020/21.
"Don't remind me… He dug deep and never gave in," Cottrell bemoaned. "So, it would mean a lot to me if Succeed could win on Australian Cup night."
Cottrell, who owns Succeed, has no doubt he'd get over a little bit further. (NB. Fernando Cazz was runner-up in the 2021 Association Cup over 720m at Wentworth Park.)
"Mum reared the litter, and we received a male and female pup as part of the agreement," Cottrell said.
"And we've got know immediate plan to step Succeed up in distance. We're focusing on '600' at this stage."
Cottrell is a cousin of young AFL Carlton star, Matt Cottrell.
When asked if a Succeed victory in the Rookie Rebel would put her ahead in the family sporting bragging rights, she quipped: I don't know about that, they're two different sports. But I always like to tell Matty, I'm the better cousin."
