Keeneland puts Busuttin and Young on Derby path again

[Wandering Eyes]

New Zealand-breds have been a rich source of success for Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young in Australian three-year-old staying features, and that trend continued in Saturday’s Listed ABC Bullion Super Impose Stakes (1800m) at Flemington.

The expat Kiwi couple collected their third win in the A$175,000 Super Impose with the up-and-comer Keeneland, who followed in the footsteps of fellow Kiwi-breds Main Stage (2017) and Atmosphere (2014).

Saturday’s success has Busuttin and Young working backwards from next month’s Gr.1 Victoria Derby (2500m), which the stable won with Savabeel gelding Sangster back in 2011. They also won the Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick with Tavistock’s son Tavago in 2016.

There is still a lot of water to go under the bridge before Keeneland can be mentioned in that Group One company, but the Almanzor gelding is showing all the right signs so far in his short career.

Fourth and second in his first two starts in August and early September, the gelding broke through and left maiden ranks in his third attempt at Benalla on September 27. Barely a week later, he backed up at Flemington, stepped into stakes company and delivered a repeat result.

Jockey John Allen took up a position in second, three or four lengths behind the over-racing leader Sir Kenny.

Keeneland strode past that front-runner just before the 300m mark and took command. Challengers lined up on both sides of him and appeared to be clawing him back, but Keeneland found more and held them at bay by a length and a quarter.

“That was a good win,” Allen said. “We had a nice run behind the speed. They came at him in the straight, but I liked the way he knuckled down and put them away again late.

“He’s really improving with every run. He’s got a good attitude and is a very clean-winded horse. He appreciated the step up to 1800m today, and he’s heading into the right direction looking towards a race like the Derby.”

Keeneland has now had four starts for two wins, a second and A$134,890 in stakes. He races in the same green, blue and pink colours of part-owner Tommy Heptinstall that were carried to Victoria Derby success by Sangster more than a decade ago.

“We’ve won this race two times before, and it’s always a nice race to win – you know you’ve got a Derby contender going forward,” Young said.

“We got him home after his Benalla win and just ticked him over at home. He’s got a good constitution, so he’s been eating up. He just cantered a couple of laps every day, and then we increased the pressure a little bit midweek. He’s turned up in great order today and won well.

“I think he’s up to the mark for a race like the Derby, definitely. He’s shown that he can go forward or sit a bit further behind. He was a bit gawky at Benalla, but nice and straight today. He’s a horse on the up, and that’s what you need heading towards a race like the Derby.”

Keeneland was bred by Kinsale Bloodstock Ltd and was offered by Kiltannon Stables in Book 1 of Karaka 2023, where Andrew Campbell Bloodstock, Busuttin Racing and Hepstinall bought him for $80,000.

Keeneland became the seventh individual stakes winner in Australia for Cambridge Stud stallion Almanzor, joining the likes of Group One winners Circle Of Fire and Manzoice and Group Three winners Positivity and Athabascan.

The dam of Keeneland is the Savabeel mare Savabeel Star, who herself was a winner over 2200m and is the dam of seven winners from eight foals to race. Keeneland became Savabeel Star’s second stakes winner, joining the Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m) winner Stella Di Paco.

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