Racing has been a labour of love for Kay O'Neill since she was riding horses as a teenager at Morven in regional Queensland.

The long-term trackwork rider, owner and breeder ticked over a couple of significant milestones in her life in the month of September in 2025.

She turned 50 years of age while also preparing her first winner as a trainer.

Kay O'Neill did so when Denman Avenue won the opening event at Gladstone, a Maiden Plate over 850 metres, earlier this month.

After starting her maiden runner in a race in November of 2022 at Mount Perry, O'Neill and her husband Michael, who she trains alongside, have been desperately searching for their breakthrough winner.

"We both were over the moon," O'Neill said about Denman Avenue's win.

"We both have our trackwork and stablehand licences and my husband will ride them if I cannot for whatever reason.

"It definitely has been a team effort and it has been a long time coming.

"The big fella loves Gladstone; he has had three starts there for three placings – we think we have found his niche."

Before going into training, Michael and Kay O'Neill owned a number of horses with Queensland trainers.

Hoop Minonette Kennedy has struck up a close bond with Denman Avenue and the O'Neill team in recent times.

She did the steering at Gladstone as the four-year-old scored by almost two lengths.

The son of Denman started his racing journey with Stephen Jones in regional New South Wales and lasted one start south of the border at Dubbo before he was moved on.

The O'Neills quickly swooped on the entire.

It is rare to see an entire racing on the non-TAB circuit in the bush in the Sunshine State.

The hobby trainer was blown away by Denman Avenue's size when she first laid eyes on him late last year.
Photography CQ.

The stable purchased him understanding he needed a throat operation and he broke through at his 11th attempt in Queensland.

"I nearly fell out of the car when I saw how big he was," O'Neill recalls.

"He towers over every other horse that he walks around with in that mounting yard.

"He is a true gentleman and you cannot fault him. 

"He is still an entire and he stands amongst the other horses at the races like a gelding would, he is a beautiful horse."

The stable have set Denman Avenue for a Class B Handicap over 850 metres at Gympie in late September as they hunt a second career victory for the entire.

As a relative newcomer to the training ranks in Queensland, O'Neill had sought out advice from the late Pat Duff before his sad passing as well as Malcolm Bailey and Trevor Thomas over the last few years.

Hailing from Morven, O'Neill spent time around the Kevin Goldsmith stable as a teenager before eventually graduating to becoming the clerk of the course at Roma. 

The stable tasted a breakthrough win with Denman Avenue recently and they will be searching for another one this Saturday.

The team have Lipstick Lies – who is still a maiden galloper after 42 starts – nominated for the annual Eidsvold races.

The daughter of Spirit Of Boom has placed on 10 occasions and the O'Neill husband-and-wife team believe there is a win yet in their six-year-old mare.

"She has been pipped for first six times," she said.

"We think she will win a race.

"We have to run her in Benchmark races because there aren't many distance maidens in the country areas."

The O'Neill stable trains on their own property at Kilkivan and will head into the track at Wondai at times.