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Paula's 20-year passion for KI racing

Twenty years since her first winner at Kangaroo Island, Morphettville trainer Paula Trenwith secured a maiden treble, made all the more special because it occurred on one of her favourite race tracks.

Each year the two-time KI Cup winner combines the carnival with a holiday on the island, and the extra time to relax seems to pay off.

“I really love it. I’ve been coming here with my own horses since 2002. It’s where I had my first winner, and I only just realised that it’s 20 years this year that I’ve been bringing horses over here,” Trenwith said.

“Before that I was over here with other trainers when I was a strapper so it’s been a long time. I’ve seen a few changes and the club’s gone ahead in leaps and bounds. I love the community and the feel when I come over here, it’s fantastic.”

Making the treble even more special was that owner Dave Cunningham had travelled from Melbourne for the occasion and was able to celebrate wins for three of his horses - Oakfield Geronimo, The Ladies Man, and Run On.

It was also a day that apprentices Jade Doyle and Stacey Callow won’t forget in a hurry. Doyle rode her first winner aboard Oakfield Geronimo, while Callow rode the other two horses to victory as she secured a maiden treble herself.   

“It was really good to see Jade ride her first winner too and that little horse is fantastic. It’s nice to see him at the races and it’s nice to see him go past the post first.”

Trenwith’s dominant day has given her an early lead in the $10,000 Arthur Daw Memorial Trainers Challenge which is run over the three race meetings on Kangaroo Island.

It’s an honour she’s come close to winning in the past, and perhaps 2022 could be the year.

“Well you never know. I’m certainly off to a flying start. There’s still obviously a lot of races and there’s trainers here with probably better credentialed horses than me - and more of them - but you just never know what’s going to happen on race day so cross your fingers.”

Like almost every other February for the past two decades, Trenwith will spend a week on the island next month, arriving a few days before the Carnival on the 17th and 19th. It’s a chance to relax before everyone else arrives in “party mode”.

Trenwith stays at a holiday house owned by track manager Mick Zander. The KI community the pull that keeps bringing her back. 

“It’s more relaxed than in the city and everyone comes over here to have a good time,” she said.

“Everyone is friendly and happy. It’s a fun time and it’s so unique because you have to catch a ferry with the horses to get over here.

“It’s not like you can just jump in the car and come over. You’ve also got to go over a body of water and at times that can be a bit hairy too so that all adds to the drama of Cup week.”

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