Sunshine Coast’s odd couple baking up success

By Jordan Gerrans

Group 1-winning trainer David Vandyke and Sunshine Coast baker Kenny McKellar might just be one of racing’s most curious odd couples.

On the surface, the respected conditioner and the teenager who makes pies for a living do not have much in common.

But, over the last few years, they have developed a close bond and both acknowledge that they lift each other’s spirits when they interact on an almost daily basis before the sun rises. 

“He brightens up my day,” McKellar said of Vandyke.

The friendship started about three years ago when Vandyke would swing past Parklands Bakery at Little Mountain on the way to the Caloundra track every morning.

He would order himself a coffee for trackwork as well as a couple of croissants for a snack.

As McKellar grew in his apprenticeship, he began to realise the top trainer was a regular and would have his order prepared and ready on the counter as he walked into the bakery so he would not need to waste any time waiting around.

Now qualified as a bakery and pastry cook after his three-year apprenticeship, McKellar has been rewarded with seniority at work as well as a tip of the cap from his close mate Vandyke.

Vandyke had long been keen to name a horse after his baking mate and once he found the right galloper – Kenny The Baker was so branded.

“Since I have known Kenny the person, I have always wanted to name a horse after him and this was the right opportunity,” Vandyke said.

“I admire the job he has done over the years and the progression he has shown.”

Vandyke says that when they first met, McKellar was a ‘snotty-nosed’ 15-year-old but he has developed into a hard-working and passionate young man.

McKellar sports a big black mullet for a haircut and is an imposing figure as a teenager.

He is still smiling from ear-to-ear about having the three-year-old son of Better Than Ready named after him.

“It made me so happy and that is all I thought about for the entire day,” McKellar said.

“I didn’t stop talking about it for a week at the bakery and obviously to everyone I know – I still do it. It was amazing.”

The odd couple bonded over their early morning alarm clocks and while Vandyke is several decades older than McKellar, they have become quite tight.

“We have got a great relationship as long as he keeps making the coffees and croissants,” Vandyke said with a laugh.

“He is actually a bit of an inspiration because I can be having a pretty ordinary morning and he can lift my spirits.

“Kenny is a real inspiration because he always has a smile on his face and he is positive.

“He gets up early for work – like I do – so there is that connection there.

“I enjoy coming down and seeing him every day, we have a chat and some banter – he is always good for a laugh.”

Kenny The Baker is just starting his second preparation as a racehorse.

The gelding put in a smart trial in December of last year when he scored by almost four lengths.

While he could not get the chocolates in his two official starts to date over December and January, Vandyke thinks winning a maiden is attainable for the galloper this campaign.

“I had very high hopes, he won his jump-out and then won his trial impressively in really good time,” Vandyke said.

“I really expected him to win his first start but he missed the start and got back in the field.

“He went wide on the corner and while it was a good run, I obviously expected him to win so I felt a bit disappointed after the performance.

“In his second start, he didn’t perform as well as I would have liked.

“He is back in work now after a break and I am expecting big things for him this preparation.

“He is a QTIS eligible horse and we will find a maiden for him at the Sunshine Coast and hopefully Kenny can come to the meeting.”

McKellar attended his gelding’s maiden race day appearance on Boxing Day last year and loved the atmosphere of being at Corbould Park as he is not a regular track visitor.

As a trainer that has big numbers of gallopers that go through his barn, Vandyke waited for the perfect opportunity to name a horse after his baking friend.

Vandyke is the majority owner of the horse and when he inspected him following the sales a couple of years ago, he noticed three key characteristics standing out.

They were: ability, easy to deal with, and good-looking.

And, the trainer thought the horse was just like his namesake.

“He ticked all three boxes,” the top Caloundra horseman said.

McKellar says the horse named after him is ‘beautiful and handsome’.

Kenny The Baker will have his first-up assignment this preparation in the coming weeks.