Black Type Success across the Ditch

While New Zealand gallopers were stealing the show in Singapore this weekend, the flag was also being flown in Australia with three black type wins adding to New Zealand's success.

Keepin' The Dream claimed victory in a photo finish to win the $120,000 Listed Emirates Park Scone Cup (1600m) in New South Wales. The five-year-old gelding is by Cambridge Stud stallion Keeper from Irish Nassie (Nassipour) and this is his second black type win for the season, having also taken out the Group 3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m) in November.

Keepin' The Dream is one of 14 individual black type winners for Keeper including multiple Group winners� Keep the Peace, Keepa Cruisin and Insouciant who was also New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year 2008.

Meanwhile, Karaka graduate The Hombre claimed a win in the $125,000 Group 3 Rough Habit Plate (2020m) for three-year-olds at Doomben on Saturday. Although he crossed the line second by a short neck he was subsequently awarded the win after a steward's inquiry. This win qualifies The Hombre for the A$500,000 Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) on 12 June.

The Hombre, by Lucky Owners from Atlanta Belle (Defensive Play), was passed in for $36,000 as a yearling at the Karaka 2008 Select Yearling Sale. He was then subsequently bought by trainer John Bary�as a two-year-old at the 2008 Ready to Run Sale for $50,000 from Highview Stud.

Also at Doomben, New Zealand-bred gelding Crossthestart (Cape Cross) had his first black type win when he took out Doomben's Group 3 staying feature - the Chairman's Handicap (2020m) - by two lengths on Saturday.

Crossthestart is now one of a number of New Zealand-bred nominees for the A$300,000 Group 2 Brisbane Cup Handicap (2400m) on 12 June. Other Brisbane Cup hopefuls include Vision and Power (Carnegie), Indikator (Sandtrap), Tinseltown (Pentire) and Sir Slick (Volksraad).