Keeneland (NZ) Comes of Age in Super Impose Stakes

Karaka graduate Keeneland (NZ) (Almanzor) emerged as a staying three-year-old with real promise when he muscled his way to victory in Saturday’s A$175,000 Listed ABC Bullion Super Impose Stakes (1800m) at Flemington.

It was the second win from only a four-start career for Keeneland, who was bought for $80,000 from Book 1 of Karaka 2023. He has earned A$134,890 in prize-money.

Keeneland was purchased at Karaka by Andrew Campbell Bloodstock and Tommy Heptinstall in partnership with trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young. That expat Kiwi couple have made their name with big wins by Karaka-sourced three-year-olds, including Sangster (NZ) (Savabeel) in the 2011 edition of the Group One Victoria Derby (2500m) and Tavago (NZ) (Tavistock) in the Group One Australian Derby (2400m) five years later.

Fourth and second in his first two appearances, Keeneland cleared maidens at start number three with a three-length victory at Benalla on September 27. Busuttin and Young decided to raise the bar by several notches after that win, backing up barely a week later and stepping into black-type class.

Keeneland showed that he was up to the task, settling in second before pouncing on the tiring leader at the top of the home straight. Challengers chased hard and appeared to be closing the gap in the final 200 metres, but Keeneland lifted again and maintained a comfortable winning margin of a length and a quarter.

“That was a good win,” jockey John 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 1800 metres today, and he’s heading into the right direction looking towards a race like the Derby.”

Busuttin and Young are keen to continue to progress along the road to the Victoria Derby on November 2.

“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.”

Vendor	Kiltannon Stables Ltd
Purchaser	Andrew Campbell Bloodstock/Busuttin Racing/Mr T Heptinstall (Waikato)
Breeding	Almanzor – Savabeel Star
Sale	Lot 484, Karaka 2023 Book 1, $80,000
Bred by	Kinsale Bloodstock Ltd