KEENELAND yet Another Almanzor in Hunt for Gr1 VRC Derby

07 Oct 24

Almanzor is the most promising sire of staying prospects in decades in the Southern Hemisphere and yet another son KEENELAND boosted his Classic prospects when he produced a strong performance to win the Listed Super Impose Plate over 1800 metres at Flemington on Saturday becoming the sire’s 20th Stakes Winner.

The son of Almanzor and will next month bid to give Cambridge Stud in NZ a second victory in the G1 VRC Derby following on from the win in 2022 by Manzoice.

Trained by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, Keeneland broke his maiden at Benalla at his third appearance late last month and he bridged the gap to stakes company with aplomb.

“We just ticked him over at home and he’s got a good constitution,” Young said.

“He was in great order and won really well, we’ve got a nice Derby contender going forward.”

Rider John Allen had Keeneland travelling sweetly in second spot and, after striding to the 350 metres from home, he stayed on strongly to win by a length and a-quarter.

“We had a nice run in behind the speed and he’s just improved with every run,” Allen said.

“He’s got a good attitude and a clean-winded horse who appreciated the step up to 1800 metres so he’s heading in the right direction.”

He is a half-brother to six winners with their dam the Savabeel mare Savabeel Star, a half-sister to the G3 Hawke’s Bay Guineas winner Stardane.

Bred by Kinsale Bloodstock, Keeneland was bought out of Kiltannon Stables draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale for $85,000.

KEENELAND became the 20th Stakes Winner for ALMANZOR from 3 crops of racing age.

Further, this was the 3rd Stakes Win for the new season for ALMANZOR having already sired RISE AT DAWN and POSITIVITY who recorded stakes success. Whilst stakes placings have gone to Holymanz, Manzoice and Positivity

As a sire he has had

Runners: 432, Winners: 234 Wins: 412, SHorses: 45, SWins: 20 (10), SWns: 26 (13), SPld: 25, Earnings: $22,105,661