27 Aug 2008
Keeper's Group 1 winning four-year-old mares
Keepa Cruisin and
Insouciant are ready to run mighty races in the Group 1 $250,000 Mudgway Partsworld Stakes (1400m) at Hastings on Saturday.
The pair won Group 1 events during their three-year-old racing campaigns.
Keepa Cruisin, trained by Stephen McKee, was successful in the Group 1 Levin Classic at Otaki last November.
In the same month Insouciant, trained by Mark Walker, captured the Group 1 New Zealand One Thousand Guineas.
Insouciant went on to take out the prestigious New Zealand Bloodstock Filly Of The Year series title for the 2007/08 racing season.
The pair clash against a top field at Hastings and will have to be on the mettle to take out the major prize.
Keepa Cruisin will be ridden by Leith Innes while Insouciant has the services of Troy Harris.
Mark Walker has also announced this week that if Insouciant doesn't perform well in the Mudgway she could be retired to stud.
"It hinges on her performance on Saturday," Walker said. "Retirement is in the offing if she doesn't race well this time," he said.
"She was a bit disappointing at Hastings and I am expecting plenty of improvement in her this time," said Walker.
Keepa Cruisin is a half-sister to the two-time New Zealand Horse Of The Year Seachange who won the past two runnings of the Mudgway Partsworld Stakes.