KEYBOARD CONTINUES POSITIVE FORM TURNAROUND

By Graham Potter | Thursday, July 25, 2024

Keyboard made it two wins from her last three starts when she prevailed in a QTIS BM62 Handicap over 1100m at Gatton on July 25.

Her previous win (her Maiden win) had come over the same distance at Toowoomba, also on a Soft 5 track, the same conditions she would get at Gatton, and while her follow-up effort to that did result in an unplaced finish over the shorter 1000m trip, it was not a train-smash and she faced the starter here as an $8 chance.

Apprentice Landan Sykes was again handed the reins to the four-year-old mare and he made good use of the number one barrier draw on her, getting Keyboard away smartly and settling her in a prominent third place early, racing two lengths behind the winner in a fairly bunched up field.

With Sykes biding his time along the inside running rail, Keyboard actually went back to fifth place, now some three lengths off the leader, at the start of the sweep to the home turn ... but, importantly, Keyboard was still racing well within herself at that stage.

Keyboard was quickly up to fourth place on straightening ... then third switching back to the inside.

The $12 chance Duntroon Lass was the horse that Keyboard had to run down but, just as he did that, the $3.20 favourite Born Fearless joined in a very keen three-way battle, looking a real threat ... but Keyboard proved to be the strongest of the trio.

She refused to relinquish her lead and crossed the line with 0.40 lengths to spare.

That’s two wins for Keyboard now in the five starts she has had since joining the Geran stable.

More articles