Stakes Goals Possible for Wandjina Pinhook Winner

Tara Madgwick - Saturday July 31

Larneuk Stud is the new home for Snitzel’s Group I winning son Wandjina and he featured at the last metropolitan meeting of the season in Melbourne when two year-old gelding Rock Artist scored an all the way win at Moonee Valley.

Advertisement

Rock Artist wins in a thrilling finish - image Scott Barbour/ Racing Photos.

A last start maiden winner at Moe, the Ken and Kasey Keys trained youngster raced on the pace after jumping from the outside gate and kicked away turning for home.

He was tenacious to the line for Craig Newitt and had enough left to claim a short half head win in the 1000m scamper over Direct and Jigsaw.
 



“He's a really nice horse this bloke," Newitt said. 

"I trialled him up before he ran first-up and he trialled alongside Jigsaw, so we got a bit of a measuring stick there. 

"We were very confident when we went to the races in a maiden and coming here today, drawn wide, it was going to be a little unknown where we would end up.

"But once he flew the lids I thought I'd press the issue and go forward.”

Rock Artist showed plenty of fight to win and connections may look to early spring Black Type races such as the Group III MRC Vain Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on August 14 or the Listed MVRC McKenzie Stakes (1200m) at The Valley the following week.

"We'll just see how he pulls up and make a decision," Ken Keys said.

"We won the McKenzie with Rich Enuff and ran third with Free To Move last year, so it would be nice to come back, but we'll wait and see."

Rock Artist as a yearling.

Rock Artist was a $35,000 Inglis Classic purchase from the Lime Country Thoroughbreds draft for Ken Keys Racing and was a successful pinhook having been bought for just $8,000 from the Fairhill Farm Inglis Weanling Sale draft by DGR Thoroughbred Services Pty Ltd / SearcyMedia / Hussary.

With two wins from four starts, Rock Artist has banked over $90,000 in prizemoney.

Bred by Mike O’Donnell of Fairhill Farm, Rock Artist is the second winner from Ultima Carta, an unraced half-sister by Choisir to Group I winner Good Project and Singapore stakes-winner World Airlines.

Wandjina stands at a fee of $8,800 at Larneuk Stud this spring.



 

Advertisment

Race Result - Mia Kleer Hand Sanitiser Hcp 1000m

Moonee Valley Track: Soft(5) Time: 0:59.33
1
Rock Artist
- 2g Wandjina (AUS) x Ultima Carta (AUS) (Choisir (AUS))
Tnr: K & K Keys Rdr: C Newitt 54.5
2
0.1
Direct
- 2c Siyouni (FR) x Upfront (USA) (War Front (USA))
Tnr: Lloyd Kennewell Rdr: J Bowditch 55.5
3
0.3
Jigsaw
- 2c Manhattan Rain (AUS) x Demandz (NZ) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: Ms C Alderson Rdr: M Zahra 60
4
2.3
Montana Flash
- 2g Star Turn (AUS) x Dukemore (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: Craig Williams 54
5
3.8
Lloyd's Crown
- 2g Rebel Dane (AUS) x Mahogany Room (AUS) (High Rolling (AUS))
Tnr: Ms R Waymouth Rdr: R T Tremsal 56.5
6
4.0
Wonder Legend
- 2g Winning Rupert (AUS) x Demanding Queen (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: J D Sadler Rdr: Will Price 52.5
7
5.0
Abaddon
- 2c Fighting Sun (AUS) x Dark Angel (AUS) (Nadeem (AUS))
Tnr: J Warren & D Krongold Rdr: Alana Kelly 51
8
6.0
Frostin'
- 2g Frosted (USA) x Patina (AUS) (Anabaa (USA))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: Damian Lane 56
9
7.2
Square Cut
- 2g Kuroshio (AUS) x Legcut (AUS) (Danerich (AUS))
Tnr: John McArdle Rdr: Matthew Cartwright 52
10
22.2
I Am War
- 2g Warhorse (NZ) x Abahlali (AUS) (Statue Of Liberty (USA))
Tnr: T J Andrews Rdr: Ms A Bryan 51
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Monday June 2
Here is the full list of 40 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
In-Demand Stallions Feature in NZB Weanling Sale Catalogue
The catalogue for the 2025 NZB National Weanling Sale features the progeny of a broad range of sires, from proven topliners to exciting up-and-comers as well as the brand-new kid on the block, Profondo.
Williams honoured with Damehood
Two thoroughbred industry stalwarts have been bestowed one of New Zealand’s highest honours in the King’s Birthday honour list, including Catriona Williams, who has been appointed a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to spinal cord injury research and equestrian sport.
One to Watch – Echuca
Twin Hills Stud’s Peltzer had an impressive winner at Echuca on Tuesday for his breeder Olly Tait.
Pony Racing Series Finals This Saturday
The excitement is building as the 2025 National Pony Racing Series Finals prepare to take centre stage at the Gold Coast Turf Club on Saturday, 7 June, showcasing the nation's most promising young riders and their ponies.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday June 3
Here is the full list of 30 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Impressive First Winner for St Marks Basilica
Coolmore shuttler St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) was the 2021 European Horse of the Year and the son of Siyouni is on the board as a sire with his first winner after Rogue Supremacy scored an impressive debut victory.
Almanzor Colt Wins G2 Italian Derby
Wootton Bassett sired the winner of the Group I Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) on Sunday in Camille Pissarro and then overnight his champion Cambridge Stud based son Almanzor (Fr) produced the winner of the Group II Derby Italiano (2200m).
Brendan Lindsay honoured - Knights of the Cambridge Stud roundtable
The Cambridge Stud legacy continues to grow, with current co-principal Brendan Lindsay appointed a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the King's Birthday Honours for his services to business and philanthropy.
Inglis Internship applications open
An opportunity to work with Australia’s most progressive thoroughbred auction house has become available through the renowned Inglis Internship program.