Bargain buy Kawhi delivers again

[Wandering Eyes]

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk 

Five-year-old trotter Kawhi has only been with the Keasts for a few weeks, and already he’s turning into a good buy.

The Andover Hall gelding secured his second win in his last four starts, at Timaru yesterday.

Purchased by Darren Keast Limited from auction site Gavelhouse in November for $8501 he has already covered his purchase price, with stakes earnings of around $10,000.

“He’s a lovely horse and beautifully natured,” says Ashleigh Keast, “I think we are going to have a bit of fun with him and we’ll just see what happens.”

Before his move Kawhi had had a couple of wins with Tom Bagrie.

“When he rocked up he was covered in dapples and looked an absolute picture.”

The most immediate concern was that he was being hampered by tying up either during or after his races.  

“So we tinkered with his feet and his feed and did fast work with him every day,” says Keast.”

It certainly seems to have done the trick.

Yesterday in the South Canterbury Hydraulics/ Catering South Canty Trot at Phar Lap Raceway Kawhi and Blair Orange started safely before going into the lead with a lap to go. He then skipped away at the turn holding on to win by a length and a half from Barrytown. They had cleared out from the field with 18 lengths back to third.

Keast watched the race at home.

“On the two occasions I’ve been there live he’s been ordinary and the two I’ve missed he’s won!”

But Keast can take some credit for securing Kawhi in the first place. Bidding on the horse exceeded their initial budget before she encouraged her husband Darren to go a little higher.

Already that seems an inspired decision.

“Darren used to train a trotter called Lovey Dovey Moment and we are hoping this guy might do a similar job for us.”

Lovey Dovey Moment won seven races and nearly $70,000 in the end.

While Darren Keast involves himself in the training and the buying and selling of bloodstock, Ashleigh’s key focus is the up-coming yearling sales.

As the main preparer of the yearlings for Darren’s grandparents Paul and Pauline Renwick, Keast is currently preparing a draft of 11 for the 2025 NZB National Standardbred Yearling Sales in Christchurch on February 18.

This year she is preparing two “outside” yearlings in that draft including Lot 156, an Always B Miki – Lovetodream Colt for Martin and Shirley Cummings.

“Hopefully this is the one they get a good result on.”

And good results is what Kawhi has already produced, and with the way he won in Timaru there could well be a few more to come.

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