Heavily supported when making her debut in a super strong open fillies race on a Saturday at Caulfield won by Blue Diamond place-getter Kuroyanagi, this Snitzel filly couldn’t get the job done that day, but dropped back in grade today at Ballarat she lived up to expectation.
Trained by Tony and Calvin McEvoy, Keepsake was again heavily backed and went out a short priced favourite in the 1200m maiden fitted with blinkers and a lugging bit after her meek effort on debut.
The gear changes and race experience obviously did the trick with Luke Currie guiding her to a comfortable two and a half length win.
A homebred for Arrowfield and partners, Keepsake is a full sister to South African stakes-winner Traces and is a three-quarter sister to Group III placed Spring Loaded, so the goal for now will be seeking Black Type to go on her resume.
“That was a pleasing result and obviously we expected her to go close at Caulfield,” said Calvin McEvoy.
“We decided to drop her back to maiden grade, albeit a $75,000 maiden, which is absolutely fantastic and I’d like to thank John and Paul Messara and their partners for entrusting us with this filly.
“We’ll give good consideration to the Red Roses (Black Type) down the straight as Black Type is key for this filly with that pedigree and I think she’s up to it.”
Keepsake is the fifth winner from seven to race from Traceability, an unraced half-sister by Charge Forward to Group I winners Master of Design and Suntagonal from the family of Australian Horse of the Year Typhoon Tracy and seven time Group I winning $9million earner Alligator Blood.
Arrowfield sold a full sister to Keepsake at Inglis Easter this year for $500,000 to Cambridge Stud and Traceability has foaled this spring producing a colt by Maurice (Jpn).
