Cover image courtesy of Race Photos
It has been a rollercoaster of emotions for Ballarat trainer Calvin McEvoy regarding his filly Keepsake (Snitzel), but a classy win on her hometown track on Thursday could be a sign of better things to come.
Dropping down in grade, the 3-year-old homebred for Arrowfield Stud and partners was far too good for her rivals, saluting in the $75,000 Magic Millions 3YO Fillies Mdn Plate (Emerging Stars Series Heat 2 over 1200 metres) by 2.25l.
Big improvement
It was her second start and a big improvement from her debut in the $150,000 Thoroughbred Club of Australia Plate (1200 metres) for fillies at Caulfield on October 12, where she finished 8l back in 10th from winner, Kuroyanagi (Written Tycoon).
That day, McEvoy admits he left the track feeling “very flat”.
“She was beaten by 8l at Caulfield, and I don’t think we could’ve got her 8l wrong,” he told The Thoroughbred Report.
“It won’t be the last time we get one wrong, but we certainly left the racetrack very flat and probably expected to find an issue with her, which we didn’t find.
Calvin McEvoy | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“In turn, that gave us the confidence to continue on and target a maiden, albeit it was a $75,000 maiden.”
Potentially a black-type future
If Keepsake pulls up well from Thursday’s maiden triumph, McEvoy said her next start would come in the $150,000 Red Roses S. (3YO Fillies) at Flemington on November 7.
“If she comes through it well we’ll press on to some Black Type,” McEvoy, who trains with his father Tony, said.
“If she (Keepsake) comes through it (the win at Ballarat on Thursday) well we’ll press on to some black type.” - Calvin McEvoy
On Thursday, McEvoy was delighted with Keepsake’s performance, and spoke about his gratitude towards Arrowfield for entrusting him and father Tony to train the young emerging talent, who is sired by multiple champion sire Snitzel.
The brilliant sire, who stands for $247,500 (inc GST) at Arrowfield – notched up a remarkable milestone 150th stakes winner when his colt Saint Emilion took out the Listed Geelong Classic for 3-year-olds on Wednesday.
Keepsake is also closely related to Saint Emilion through their female line, with both sharing a third dam - the blue hen mare Princess Tracy (Ire) (Ahonoora {GB}).
Saint Emilion clears away in the Listed Geelong Classic on Wednesday | Image courtesy of Race Photos
Snitzel has recently produced precocious Group winners Lady Shenandoah and Makarena, who enjoyed respective triumphs in the G1 Flight S. and G2 Golden Pendant.
And McEvoy believes Keepsake could be yet another star.
“She’s got a pedigree that if John and Paul (Messara at Arrowfield Stud) had decided to sell her she would’ve made a fortune at the sales,” he said.
“They obviously believe in the family and have decided to retain her and race her, and we were lucky enough to be entrusted to train her.
“She’s got a pedigree... They (Arrowfield Stud) obviously believe in the family and have decided to retain her (Keepsake) and race her, and we were lucky enough to be entrusted to train her.” - Calvin McEvoy
“I remember when she first arrived I was very excited when John Messara called me and said that he was sending a nice Snitzel filly down.”
Keepsake’s win on Thursday was also proof of how much she has evolved physically and mentally – even just in the 12 days since her disappointing debut at Caulfield.
Keepsake clears away in the 3YO Fillies Mdn Plate at Ballarat on Thursday | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“She’s really grown, stretched and turned into a really good-looking filly, which is what you come to expect from what Arrowfield breeds and what Snitzel produces.”
Charge Forward maternal lines and the McEvoy stable
Keepsake’s unraced dam, Traceability (Charge Forward), has produced nine foals, with seven runners for five winners.
Born in 2011, her only stakes winner thus far has been Traces – a full brother to Keepsake. Traceability was also bred by Arrowfield.
“She (Traceability) is a Charge Forward mare, which I’m a big fan of, and Sunlight was out of a Charge Forward mare,” McEvoy said.
“She (Traceability) is a Charge Forward mare, which I’m a big fan of, and Sunlight was out of a Charge Forward mare.” - Calvin McEvoy
“I know the stats are very good. I think the mother was unraced, but the pedigree is quite deep.”
Keepsake is out of a half-sister to G1 winners Master of Design and Suntagonal from the family of Australian Horse of the Year Typhoon Tracy, and seven-time Group 1-winning $9 million-earner Alligator Blood.
Arrowfield sold a sister to Keepsake at Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale this year for $500,000 to Cambridge Stud, and Traceability has foaled a colt by Maurice (Jpn) this spring.
Other Ballarat highlights
Meanwhile, gelding Just For Show (Showtime) – bred by Seymour Bloodstock – showed good tenacity to fight back and win by 0.15l over Nimbustwothousand (Lonhro) in the 3YO Colts and Geldings Mdn Plate (Emerging Stars Series Heat 1) also over 1200 metres for Ben, Will and JD Hayes at Ballarat.
Showtime, a son of Snitzel, has sired 136 named foals for 75 runners and 31 winners, with Show Royale his only stakes winner.
Dam Justine (Lonhro) has produced seven foals for four runners, all winners.
The Hayes’ stable representative, Will Evans, said Just For Show could compete well in the $250,000 The Emerging Star (1400 metres) on Ballarat Cup Day – Saturday, December 7.
“I’m sure the boys will pencil that race in and target their way there. He won first-up over 1200 at the right time of the year, so it’s very exciting,” he told racing.com.
