Who could forget Jabell Shekera Spin?
Who could forget Mal and Jane Kennedy?
2021 Sydney Royal World Championship Campdraft.
Anyone in the industry must surely be aware of the fairytale story of how Mal and Jane purchased the beautiful, gleaming palomino mare by Seligman Spin at Landmark in 2013.
And the fairytale continued as Jabell Shekera Spin started to win and win and win in the campdraft arena under the guidance of Troy Palmer.
Mal and Jane went to Landmark with the intention of purchasing a couple of well-bred mares to compete and then breed from to continue their interest in the campdraft world. As Jane says the plan went astray very early. Shekera was Lot 10 and Jane admits she was a sucker for the pretty pally, while Mal just got excited with the whole auction hype. They blew their budget by 8.30am, but they owned Shekera and the rest has become history.
Shekera has been everything that any horse owner would want. Her talent is undisputed, her performance record talks for itself and she is an absolute gem to own. Jane has had so much fun with her in Ladies Drafts as have other jockeys fortunate enough to have been offered a ride on the great mare.
However, when things are serious, and Troy gets aboard she is the ultimate professional and the pair have had many victories including the Masters at Landmark, Sydney Royal World Championship draft and the ABCRA Open Horse of the Year.
Mal and Jane have had an extensive breeding campaign with Shekera, they have been fortunate to have seven foals from this mighty mare and Troy has had six, including foals by different leading sires throughout both the campdraft and cutting arenas. One foal, however, has continually captured Mal and Jane’s attention. Their first embryo foal from Shekera was by Acres Destiny and was born a beautiful strong black colt to be called Makenn Shekeras Destiny (Dodge).
Jane was smitten from the get-go and fully intended to take this colt to the top. They started early with Jane showing him as a yearling in the led classes at the local Ag. Shows for numerous Champions and a lot of approval from onlookers. He then went to Andrew Rolfe to be broken and then to top trainer, Jamie Seccombe. An unfortunate run of injury to both Makenn Shekera’s Destiny and then to his next trainer saw him home with Mal and Jane.
Mal and Jane then had a dilemma as by this time they had two more young colts in training, and some had to go. So Dodge was then sent to trainer Rob Leach to prepare for Nutrien as a 6yo Stallion. Rob loved him during the sale preparation and Jane was beside herself with the thought of letting him go. When he didn’t make reserve there was no happier person in Tamworth than Jane.
Dodge then went back to Rob to start his competition career and so far, it has been nothing short of spectacular. Starting with Cowhorse events he had a win at his first showing winning the Junior with Rob’s son Grant. He then went Challenging and placed at Coonamble before drafting at Armidale. He then went to the ARBC Spectacular in Dalby where he won the Open Challenge and then, he even placed Reserve Champion in the ARCHA Open Hackamore Classic in Scone. His versatility is something we haven’t seen before.
Watch this space, Dodge and Rob Leach will continue to add to their performance record and Jane will continue to be one very happy spectator as their classy stud goes through his gears.
