Kym Healy is no stranger to racing in all corners of the country with his team of horses.
The Strathalbyn horseman regularly campaigns in Broken Hill and Darwin and has been as far as Broome and Birdsville over the journey.
On Saturday he links with another South Australian journeyman - jockey Justin Potter - when in-form mare Starlite Valley steps out at Moonee Valley in Melbourne.
“I don’t have too many that head that way, they’re normally going north,’’ Healy said.
Starlite Valley has been a model of consistency since returning to Adelaide following the 2022 Darwin carnival.
She has been out of the top three in only three of her 12 starts and was beaten just 2.8 lengths behind Snapped in the Group 3 Proud Miss Stakes at Morphettville in May.
She has been super in her four runs this campaign, placed first up behind Sghirripa before consecutive Morphettville wins including the $105,000 Viddora Final and then placed behind Struck By in the Listed Christmas Handicap last time out.
“She’s been going great,’’ Healy said.
“She’s pretty easy to train, we own her ourselves so that was a nice win given a tough year for the family,’’ he said.
Healy is working one of the busiest schedules over the festive season due to the family’s camel business, a key component of the Lights of Lobethal Festival, which will only get busier this weekend.
“I’ve been under the pump with the camels,’’ Healy said.
“I’ve been starting at 4am and finishing at 11 at night, it’s been busy that’s for sure.
“She (Starlite Valley) is going over on the truck tonight and then we’ll drive over at 4 o’clock on Saturday morning and then come straight back home after the race,’’ he said.
