Giant gelding Keen Array was throwing out distress signals in the last 50 metres of Saturday's $200,000 Group II Gilgai Stakes but the son of Bel Esprit had enough in hand to earn his fourth stakes success.
A fired up Keen Array took the lead off Malibu Style 300 metres out when the $2,500 mare Sold For Song joined the fray.
Ridden by Mark Zahra for the Hayes, Hayes and Dabernig stable, Keen Array held off Sold For Song by half
"His massive, he's very hard to ride out but luckily he has got a big head and he put it out at the right time," Zahra said.
"They were going a bit slow for him early so I took it over halfway through to allow him to find his action and rhythm and from then on it worked out nicely.
"I was stopping that quick I wasn't sure (he won).
Co-trainer Tom Dabernig said it has been a bit of a battle to get Keen Array to peak fitness.
"I think it has just taken a little bit to get him fit, he had a long time off but I must admit that
"Today he sat forward, there looked to be a lack of speed and they couldn't get past him.
"He's always been a horse of high talent so it's great to see him back in winning form.
The 5yo gelding advances his overall record to 7 wins, 3 seconds and 1 third from 22 starts with earnings of $849,950.
Passed in at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale when failing to make his $30,000 reserve, and later bought privately from the estate of his breeder Oliver Wong, Keen Array is the second winner for his dam Moorea, a winning Zabeel half-sister to Group I HK International Mile winner The Duke.
Purchased out of the Wood Nook Farm draft at the 2012 Magic Millions National Broodmare sale for $100,000, Moorea has a 2yo colt by Dundeel (NZ) who was knocked down to Chesterfield Thoroughbreds for $205,000 at the Easter Yearling Sale.
Moorea had a dead foal last year and missed to Redoute's Choice.
Sun Stud's prolific winner-getter Bel Esprit stands for a fee of $12,100 this year.
