Tassie Bred Veteran Captures Pakenham Cup

Mark Smith - Sunday December 10

The 8-year-old gelding Like A Carousel came in to Saturday's $250,000 Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) with just one win, a hurdle at Sale, to his credit since he took out the Listed Harry White Classic at Sandown back in September 2014.

Punters did not think much of his chance, with just one of the 12 starters going off longer than Like A Carousel's quote of $41.

With Linda Meech in the saddle, the Ken Keys-trained gelding defied the odds to earn the biggest payday of his 52-start career.

Like A Carousel defeated another longshot Khartoum by a half-head with the $4.20 favourite Oncidium Ruler finished third

It was just his fourth trip to the winner's circle but he has been a wonderful money spinner for connections earning $678,570 and he has a Group 1 placing in the 2015 Sydney Cup won by Grand Marshal.

That's a colossal return on the $10,000 his trainer needed to secure the son of Helike (USA) from the Armidale Stud draft at the 2011 Tasmanian Magic Millions Yearling Sale.

Being prepared for another jumping preparation, Like A Carousel made his seasonal seven days earlier with a fifth in a Benchmark 90 race at Sandown.

"It was a huge punt to do what we did today but sometimes you have got to be a bit unconventional," Keys said.

"I thought it was a bit of a punt to turn him around so quick, we thought that was a trial (at Sandown).

Advertisement

"I thought I might be a place chance. He has unbelievable stamina and he proved it today.

"This horse has probably had 20-odd starts with no luck so it was great to see it all come together today."

Like A Carousel is the best of four named foals out of the Spinning World (USA) mare Carnival Ride who was pensioned in 2016 after not having a live foal in the previous five years.

A winner and placed in Melbourne, Carnival Ride is out of the stakes-placed Cup Of Cheer (Raise A Cup) a half-sister to Group II VRC Wakeful Stakes and Group II VRC Bloodhorse Breeders' Stakes winner Love Comes To Town (Exit Five B).

The sire of Like A Carousel, Helike (USA) (pictured), died in 2013.

A two-time winner in France and stakes-placed, Helike (Rahy) was a half-brother to the Group III winner Moon Driver (Mr Prospector) out of the Prix de Diane, Prix Jacques Le Marois and Poule d'Essai des Pouliches winner East Of The Moon (Private Account), a half-sister to five stakes-winners including the influential Kingmambo, and a daughter of the champion mare Miesque.

Never standing for more than $3,300 in his six seasons at Armidale Stud, Helike (USA) left just 98 live foals, four of which became stakes-winners.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Aussie 2YO SW for Tivaci
New Zealand-bred colt Matahga stamped himself as an exciting spring three-year-old prospect with a hard-fought victory in the A$120,000 Listed David Peacock Oaklands Plate (1400m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Saturday June 28
Here is the full list of 109 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Super Seth 3YO Salutes for Baker
A tenacious front-running performance in Saturday’s A$160,000 Captivant @ Kia Ora Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill added a first city victory to Puntin’s burgeoning record.
Almanzor Stayer wins G3 Tattersalls Cup
It's been a long time since the  2022 Victoria Derby and some may have wondered whether the winner Manzoice was ever going to win again!
Private Eye’s Half-Brother King’s Secret Wins Again
Although he may never reach the heights of his older half-brother Private Eye, a Group 1 winner and earner of more than $12m to date, connections of King’s Secret (Shalaa) are sure to have plenty of their own fun with the 3yo gelding winning at Rosehill on Saturday.
Better Than Ready’s Metalart Wins Group 3 W J Healy Stakes
Improving off a third in the Listed Lightning Handicap at Eagle Farm recently, 4yo Better Than Ready gelding Metalart stepped up to 1200m to record his first black type success, winning the Group 3 W J Healy Stakes.
Corumbene Stud Homebred Tashi Wins G1 Tatts Tiara
From the last crop of foals sired by Widden Stud’s much missed Golden Slipper winning sire Sebring, five year-old mare Tashi may also be his final Group I winner as she produced a career best performance at Eagle Farm on Saturday to win the $700,000 Group I Tatts Tiara (1400m).
Another Aussie SW Sourced from Aga Khan Studs
When Australian investors buy tried horses out of Europe from Aga Khan Studs they know they are getting quality, but the good ones don’t come cheap with Elamaz (IRE) sourced from their draft at the Arqana Arc Sale last year for €480,000.
Miss Joelene Achieves Millionaire Status
This time last year, Miss Joelene was highlighting herself as one to watch for the future, having placed in the Group 2 The Roses and the Group 1 Queensland Oaks, and after a few runs behind the outstanding Antino (Redwood) this time in, a class drop on Saturday saw her record victory in the $200,000 Listed BRC Tattersall’s Gold Crown (2100m) at Eagle Farm.
Tattersall’s Mile For The Inflictor - Under The Louvre’s Second SW
Third at Listed level before winning at Doomben, the Craig Cousins-trained The Inflictor (Under The Louvre) then tackled the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap, and while not in the same league as winner War Wachine (Harry Angel), the 4yo gelding showed his class on Saturday to win the Listed BRC Tattersall’s Mile (1600m) at Eagle Farm.