The story of the Cobains-based Kelly gang and their smart filly Queen Annabel is already a good one, but there may be significant chapters yet to play out after her outstanding first-up win at Cranbourne last Friday night in the Mercedes-Benz Mornington BM78 Handicap (1000m).
The Rebecca Kelly-trained four-year-old mare was perfectly ridden by Beau Mertens, finding the line strongly to defeat Sweet Snitty and Queen of Hope in a hotly contested race.
Queen Annabel, by Bel Esprit from Queen Trice, was bred by Kelly and husband Travis and will always have a special place in their hearts. 
David Kelly, Travis’s father, bought Queen Trice as part of a package deal from Cranbourne trainer Doug Harrison. David’s tragic death in August 2011 in flood waters near Sale meant he was unable to see the fruition of his breeding and ownership dream.
Queen Trice, who has also thrown the city-winning and stakes-placed Queen Delight, died when “Annie” was four months old. 
“Annie” was a result of a foal-share arrangement with Eliza Park, and the bay filly was sent to the 2015 Inglis Premier yearling sale, where after attracting little interest she was purchased by Clayton Kelly (Travis’s brother) for $6000.
Queen Annabel is raced by Travis, Rebecca and Clayton Kelly, in partnership with long-time clients and friends Matthew Boulton and Anthony Ruff. 
The progressive mare is building an impressive record, her 15 starts resulting in five wins, three placings and $124,665. She won twice at midweek metropolitan level last preparation, and started a $6 chance last Friday night.
“It’s great to have victories like this, knowing you’ve done everything with her,” Rebecca Kelly said. “We bred her — and she’s still here. We race her with a great bunch of friends. It’s a great feeling.”
It’s been a busy time for Kelly Thoroughbreds, foaling down 10 broodmares, and as a result Rebecca has only four horses in work. She usually has five or six.
 “She just pounced on them and put them away nicely,” said Kelly. 
“We’ll be looking for black type with her. The Christmas Stakes (Caulfield, December 26) could be a good option.”
Queen Annabel will next target a $100,000 Fillies and Mares BM84 Handicap (1000m) at Moonee Valley on December 1.
Moe trainers run hot
There has been plenty of enthusiasm at trackwork at the Moe Racing Club over the last week, with the facility supplying five individual winners since Melbourne Cup day. 
Peter Gelagotis, Ian Jones, Catherine Martindale and the red-hot Lenny Xuereb have all hit the scoreboard.
Most recently One For Rocky ($5.50) broke through for his first victory at Kilmore on Monday for Xuereb in the Eric Kirkman Maiden Plate (1212m), with Jason Maskiell in the saddle. 
One For Rocky races in the colours of Xuereb’s late father Rocky, a popular figure in Gippsland racing who lost his battle with cancer in 2015.
Four of Xuereb senior’s sons became jockeys — Len, Ray, Rocky junior and Winston — and Len has operated a successful stable at Moe for many years. Len’s daughter Lydia has been a key member of the Rocky and Len Xuereb stables her whole life.
The previous day, Doctor Coto ($5) resumed for Jones with an impressive all-the-way win in the Law Somerville Maiden Plate (1108m) at Moe under Jason Maskiell. 
The young Tasmanian hoop is back in Victoria, fit, healthy and riding plenty of work at Moe, so it’s great to see the local trainers supporting him. From Oaks day to Tuesday, Maskiell rode seven winners from 19 rides in Victoria.
Maskiell made it a double at Moe, combining with Gelagotis and promising four-year-old mare Thoughtful Harmony ($2.80 favourite). 
The daughter of So You Think seemed much more comfortable ridden further back in the field, racing away late to take the J.O. Miller Maiden Plate (1614m). She has plenty of scope for improvement and there are more wins in store.
Back on Oaks day, Martindale and her bargain buy, the descriptively named Longneck Larry ($8), combined with Maskiell at Racing.com Park to salute in the Pakenham Gazette BM58 Handicap (1400m). 
“Larry” by Captain Gerrard from the moderately performed mare Magic Benbara, was purchased from the 2014 Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale by Martindale and husband Bradley Stockdale for $1400. 
He has now raced 19 times for three wins and two placings, accumulating stakes of $48,627.
A race earlier at Racing.com Park, it was good to see Volontiers ($9) put his best foot forward for Xuereb, combining with Dylan Dunn to take out the Pakenham Mazda BM58 Handicap (1600m). 
The seven-year-old gelding has improved at his five runs for Xuereb and another win in the coming weeks certainly won’t surprise.