Episode 439: Wayne Collison & Kylie Kennedy

Wayne Collison and Kylie Kennedy happen to be father and daughter but choose to operate individually from their stables in the idyllic township of Narromine 40 kms from Dubbo. Wayne started training about 25 years ago following a successful career as a jockey. His wife Robyn Douglas also made her mark as a trainer in the central west. Is it any wonder one of their four daughters inherited the racing genes. Kylie has won around 150 races  in her own right. We begin the podcast with Wayne who talks about his recent run of success. He reflects on a trip to the famous Louth meeting where one of his three runners was successful. The former jockey acknowledges the horses who’ve contributed to his recent winning trot. Wayne says he’s obliged to ride all of his small team in trackwork. He talks of the facilities at his disposal. Wayne reflects on his eighteen years as Narromine track manager. He talks of the strong points of the central western racecourse. Wayne looks back on his early childhood at Cassilis, and an involvement with the under 5 stone Rugby League side. He talks of the circumstances leading up to his apprenticeship with prominent Newcastle trainer Roy Hinton. The 69 year old has vivid recollections of a winner at his very first race ride. He pays tribute to the rider of the runner up. Wayne looks back on a winning association with the smart sprinter Brother Smoke. He explains that Brother Smoke won many races despite a chronic windsucking habit. The veteran horseman recalls the transfer of his apprenticeship to respected Walcha trainer Ron Martin. He says the winters were ferocious. Wayne recalls some of the handy horses he rode for the Martin stable. Collison talks of a stint with a Canowindra stable which led him to an association with a very smart horse, and a chance meeting with the girl destined to become his wife and the mother of his four daughters. An offer to link up with the Jack Walsh stable brought him to Narromine. Forty years on he’s still a proud resident. He looks back on his days as a jockey in western NSW. He got to some far flung places. Wayne remembers two prominent trainers with whom he had a strong association. He also remembers the rogue horse who gave him a torrid time. He looks back on Robyn’s success as a registered trainer. He pays tribute to some of her better horses.Wayne remembers the loyal support of owner/breeder Les Gibson who raced a very special horse in the 1950’s. He talks of Robyn’s retirement from training and the special job she took on at a local retirement village. Wayne reveals his reasons for quitting the saddle and a seamless transition into the training ranks. He acknowledges the handy horses who’ve helped him along the way. Wayne’s daughter Kylie Kennedy comes on line to talk about her three sisters and the valuable early support she received from her parents. Kylie talks of her seventeen years of training and her favourite horses. She has nothing but praise for her partner, champion amateur rider Ricky Blewitt whose contribution to her stable is immeasurable. A laid back chat with members of a dedicated country racing family.