08 January 2024 | HRNSW MEDIA | MICHAEL DUMESNY
THEY are the best of mates off the track but the fiercest of rivals on it.
And yet again, cousins Blake Jones and Jackson Painting dominated the driving ranks throughout the Riverina in 2023.
As has been the trend for the past five years, the talented pair fought out the district’s drivers’ premiership.
Both reinsmen were regular visitors at Tabcorp Park Menangle throughout the year, where they held their own while they each finished in the top 10 on the state tally, Jones coming out slightly ahead by landing 90 winners, just three more than Painting.
But moving into 2024, Painting will be faced with a bigger challenge and responsibility as trainer of one of the Riverina’s most prominent stables.
Until now, Painting has been afforded the advantage of working alongside leading trainer, his uncle and mentor David Kennedy, who has made the decision to retire from full-time training.
This has opened the door for Painting to take over the highly-successful Narrandera stables, a challenge which has him excited about the future.
“It will all be quite different not having Dave there to regularly call the shots,” said Painting.
“He has been a great trainer over the years.
“But he decided the time was right for him to step back and give me the opportunity.
“I am so grateful for everything that he has done for me over the years.
“I have had one or two horses trained in my name for some time now and I am fortunate to have retained many of Dave’s clients to train for.”
Kennedy will not be lost to the training ranks altogether, deciding to renew his license in 2024, which will enable him to be hands-on with a few young horses that he has bred himself.
Wagga will host a rare Monday meeting this afternoon where Painting has three pacers engaged and will drive a further three for outside stables.
All three of the horses from his own stable have drawn well, giving him the confidence of a forward showing from each of them.
“I really feel all three are genuine winning chances, given their good draws,” he said.
“My Ultimate Harry kicked the season off well for me, winning at Wagga last Friday, so I am hoping that is the start of a strong year for our team.”
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