KEYBOARD PLAYS A WINNING TUNE

By Graham Potter | Saturday, July 6, 2024

It was just the type of progression any trainer would be looking for after a new horse has come into the stable ... third first-up, second second-up and then KAPOW ... the win, by 4.50 lengths!

That is the story of the four-year-old Encryption mare, Keyboard, who came into the Corey and Kylie Geran stable as a Maiden with thirteen runs behind her name.

Her first run for the Geran team came after a four-month break from racing in a QTIS Three-Year-Old Maiden Handicap over 1100m at Toowoomba on June 8 where she returned a third place, two lengths behind the winner.

The follow-up run was also at Toowoomba on June 22, in the same class, but over 1000m this time, and the second place Keyboard achieved there was particularly encouraging as she only finished half-a-length behind the winner, Chaboom, the $1.90 favourite from the powerful Robert Heathcote stable.

Keyboard thus appeared primed to strike at her next start on July 6, in the same class, back over 1100m and again in the familiar surrounds of her home track at Toowoomba ... and strike she did, in no uncertain terms, although the pre-race betting suggested Keyboard was going to be tested with Azuki marked up as the clear race favourite at $1.50. Keyboard was on the second line of betting as a $2.70 chance.

But the betting was wrong.

The race was simply a ‘no contest.’

Landon Sykes, with that useful 3kg claim, sent Keyboard into an immediate lead and then he rated his horse superbly out front, leading his market rival Azuki by a little over a length as down the back stretch and through the sweep to the home turn.

On straightened, when Keyboard immediately stretch his lead to two lengths, it was already ‘race over’ as Keyboard continued to put his rivals to the sword, ultimately gapping them by 4.50 lengths at the line.

A strong win ... and a further move in the right direction.

Landan Sykes