Written by Paul Vettise
Inn Keeper (Host {Chi}) sparked family celebrations when he won the Listed Wangoom H. two runs back on his home track and another impromptu party might be on the cards after Saturday’s Caulfield meeting.
The Symon Wilde-trained Inn Keeper will step out in the G3 Neds Sir John Monash S. and is in the right form to go close following success in two of his three outings this preparation.
The Wilde family bred the hardy 7-year-old and races him with friends, and with nine career wins and more than $465,000 in the bank, he has provided plenty of excitement along the way.
Inn Keeper is a son of Petit Cadeau (Kingston Mill {USA}) and she was successful on four occasions and all four of her foals to race have been winners.
“We raced his mother and got my sisters and Mum and Dad in the horse. It’s been wonderful and we’ve had a lot of fun,” Wilde said.
“People often say it’s a different feeling when you breed one and have a bit of success, it’s really nice.
“People often say it’s a different feeling when you breed one and have a bit of success, it’s really nice.” – Symon Wilde
“We sent the mare back to Host and Thunder Point looks quite promising. He won his first start and was unlucky at Sandown. He was very green so it was a really good run and we think he’s got quite a bit of talent.”
The Wilde-trained Thunder Point came from off the pace at Bendigo to make the perfect start to his career and made ground well for fourth, despite his waywardness, at his only other appearance.
Petit Cadeau proved a tricky broodmare during her breeding career and her last foal is a son of Keep The Faith.
“She had a terrible run and slipped three foals and had one die. She wasn’t an easy horse to breed with, but every one she’s had has been able to run,” Wilde said.
“We’ve got one more to come. The Keep The Faith is a 2-year-old and he’s just been broken in and having a preparation.
“When we breed one ourselves we usually leave them until a bit later and don’t start until they are late 3-year-olds.”
“When we breed one ourselves we usually leave them until a bit later and don’t start until they are late 3-year-olds.” – Symon Wilde
Inn Keeper is a prime example and that patient approach continue to be rewarded with the gelding, who finished runner-up in the Sir John Monash in 2018 behind Voodoo Lad (I Am Invincible), who subsequently won the G1 The Goodwood H.
Conditions to suit
While Inn Keeper has won on top of the ground, he is much better-suited by rain-affected going as he showed in recent victories at Terang and at Warrnambool.
“We’re hoping to get a bit more rain and that would bring him right into it. He needs to have a run and was unlucky at his last start in the Gold Topaz,” Wilde said.
“He knuckled badly out of the gates and that probably put paid to his chances. He won his first two starts well and it’s worth another shot.
“He needs a bit of give in the track and he’s come back as good as ever this time. He won first-up and then won the Wangoom, and like I said, he was unlucky at Swan Hill.
“He’s in really good form and if he gets conditions to suit and the right run I wouldn’t be surprised if he ran in the top three.”
Inn Keeper
While any further give in the track will aid Inn Keeper’s cause, his stablemate and Les Taggart ‘Bar’s Closed’ H. contender Ammoudi Bay (Starcraft {NZ}) will relish a decent surface.
He was also successful recently at Terang and Warrnambool before he finished eighth at his most recent appearance.
“He’s going well and there was a bit of track bias last time he ran at Sandown and he’d won a couple in a row before that,” Wilde said.
“He’s drawn well and he’s got a good turn of foot. The track firming up for him won’t be a problem, if it’s a genuine Good 4 or 5 that will be perfect.
“He’ll get a nice run in that race and he’s certainly not the roughest of chances.”
