FLEM NOV 06 - KEANO TOO STRONG ON TOP OF THE GROUND

By Taron Clarke | Monday, November 8, 2010

Flemington, November 6, 2010.
Track - Dead 4. Rail - Out 9m. Penetrometer: 4.72.
Emirates Airline 4YO+ Open Handicap - 1400m.
Time: 1-24.23. 600m Sectional: 34.59. (Carrying 55kg).
1 Keano; 2 Ahdashim; 3 Lady Gaga.
Margins: 0.1L x 0.4L

Danny O’Brien’s enigmatic galloper Keano landed his first victory in eleven months when scored a gritty win in the final event on VRC Stakes Day at Flemington over 1400 metres.

Ridden by stable jockey James Winks, the pair were coming off creditable runs behind Group 1 performers Set For Fame, Hay List, Shoot Out and Reward For Effort.

An impressive winner of the 2009 QTC Lightning Handicap over 1000 metres, the son of Pins has been kept to the sprinting distances this campaign and the entire looked to appreciate the slight rise in journey to 1400 metres.

Keano was purchased by Danny O’Brien at the 2007 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale for $450,000 from the Waikato Stud draft who retained a percentage in the stallion.

Down in grade, punters sent Keano out a 9.00 chance behind the favourite We’re Gonna Rock.

The Mark Kavanagh trained son of Fastnet Rock was allocated the title of ‘Bet of the Carnival’ by many oncourse patrons, but the entire failed to make any impression on Keano and wound up well back in the field in seventh position.

The performance was indicative of the fortunes of the Mark Kavanagh yard after the powerful team failed to produce a winner over the four days.

In a driving finish to the line Keano dug deep to hold off the fast finish of the well supported Ahdashim (12.00 – 7.50) by a short half head with a long neck back to Lady Gaga in third position.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Danny O’Brien: “He's a bit of an enigma.

"He's a horse with good talent, he's had a few problems which stopped you seeing the best of him, but everything fell into place today.

“He's been racing through the spring on soft tracks, like a lot of horses, and he's certainly a little bit better on top of the ground.

“It'd be nice to try and win two in a row. We won't aim too high. It's just great when a horse that's got issues … you can get them to win again.

“Black Caviar was breathtaking. We've seen it before but we saw her go to another level today, but our colt (Star Witness) lost no admirers today. He was very brave in defeat and I'm sure he's got a big autumn in front of him.

Jockey James Winks: “I've been begging Danny to put him out to seven furlongs, but just through wet tracks we haven't been able to get him there.

"It took us the last race of the carnival to do it.

“He was on empty … but he did the job.

“He found a really good rhythm. It was the best he's felt since I've been riding him. Like I said, he was running on empty, but he got the bob in.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Keano): 8.00 out to 10.00 into 9.00.
Favourite (We’re Gonna Rock): 2.00 out to 2.45 into 2.40. Finished seventh.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Rounding the home turn and in the early part of the straight Berringama was unable to improve his position when held up until near the 300 metres.

Berringama then layed in under pressure for the remainder of the race.

Ransom Willy raced wide without cover.

M Rodd (We’re Gonna Rock) was of the view that the horse may have come to the end of its preparation.

A subsequent veterinary examination of We’re Gonna Rock failed to reveal any abnormality other than a slower than normal recovery.

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