29 Jun 2009
When you take a close look at the season in review for Cambridge Stud’s Danehill horse, Keeper,
it reveals no fewer than 11 horses who have performed with distinction in black type races in Australia and New Zealand.
AUSTRALIA
Top of the list is the Group One-winning performance of Linky Dink (NZ) in the QTC T J Smith Stakes at Eagle Farm. It was only her fourth race day appearance for Jason Coyle, private trainer to the Patinack Farm racing and breeding empire.
Millbank (NZ) has been a Group Three winner for Keeper in Australia, taking the Wonderful World Stakes at Moonee Valley. His season also included a third placing in the VRC Carbine Club Stakes-Gr.3.
Keepin’ the Dream (NZ) won the Listed STC Sky High Stakes in March, only to be disqualified after returning a positive sample to a prohibited substance. The gelding’s season included a second in the Newcastle Gold Cup-Gr.3.
NEW ZEALAND
Keeper has added two new black type winners in New Zealand this season ? Ms Keeper and Keeper Special. Ms Keeper won the Listed Breeders’ Stakes at Wingatui in March, while Keeper Special won the Listed Fillies’ Stakes at Wanganui at the start of the season, having also taken the Listed Ryder Stakes at the very end of last season.
Keeper has had two Group One performers on the domestic front; Can’t Keeper Down who was second in the NZ Oaks and St Germaine who was third in the Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes. Both fillies had a further Group placing, with Can’t Keeper Down second in the Eulogy Stakes-Gr.3 and St Germaine second in the Matamata Breeders’ Stakes-Gr.2.
Other progeny of Keeper to achieve black-type placings this season were Insouciant (Gr.3-placed), Keepa Cruisin (Gr.3-placed), Artique (LR-placed) and Shock (twice Listed-placed).
With oldest progeny five-year-olds, Keeper has a worldwide record of 114 individual winners from 183 runners. His tally includes 72 winners in NZ, 23 in Australia, 7 from 13 in Hong Kong, 7 from 9 in Singapore and 2 from 4 in Macau.
Keeper fact sheet?
4 individual SW this season ? 2 in Australia & 2 in New Zealand
New Gr.1 winner with Linky Dink taking TJ Smith Stakes
New Gr.1 placegetters with Can’t Keeper Down & St Germaine
11 of the progeny of Keeper have added black type this season
9 individual SW in all (3 x Gr.1) & 10 stakes-placed performers
Sire of winners in 9 countries
Oldest progeny 5YOs
Sire of 2008 NZB 3YO Filly of the Year, Insouciant
Article courtesy of NZ Thoroughbred Marketing