The stock of Cambridge Stud's Keeper have had a frustrating run of seconds in major Group Races during the last month.
The John Sargent-trained
St Germaine (Keeper ex Selenium) was denied Group One victory by just a half-head in the Levin Classic at Otaki on the 27
th of November. Winner of the Gold Trail Stakes-Gr.3 at Hastings this season, St Germaine was Group One-placed as a juvenile when third in the Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes. The filly was also second in the Matamata Breeders' Stakes-Gr.2 last season and second this term in the Hawkes Bay Guineas-Gr.2.
Keep the Peace (Keeper ex Peace of Mind) is another to have come agonisingly-close to Group One success of late. The filly got to within a half-neck of victory in the NZ 1000
Another undoubted talent by Keeper is the Gerald Shand-owned
Finderskeepers (Keeper ex Join the Fun). The striking bay gelding went down by a short head to Joey Massino in yesterday's Avondale Guineas-Gr.2. Like Keep the Peace, Finderskeepers has never been out of a place. His five runs to date have netted two wins and three seconds. Finderskeepers is prepared by Richard Collett who purchased the horse at last year's NZB Ready to Run Sale.