Key to success

By Stuart Teather
CRANBOURNE trainer Ken Keys proved on Sunday that the little guys still have a place in racing.
The veteran trainer had two horses running from his stable at Cranbourne and he completed a perfect score on the day, with both winning their races.
Keys’ three-year-old gelding Roar Speed won over 1500m, upsetting the hot favourite Craquelure, trained by Peter Snowden.
Craquelure is one of the many horses owned by global racing tycoon Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, who counts the Darley Stud in Britain and Sydney’s Woodlands Stud among his empire.
Not that Keys was too concerned about the competition.
“I didn’t realise that I was in Vietnam actually,” he said.
Keys said he was pleased Roar Speed had picked up his first win and hoped it was a sign of improvement from the gelding.
“He’s a Tasmanian-bred horse, he was probably a bit disappointing in his last prep, but has improved with this prep.”
The trainer was more enthusiastic about his other winner, three-year-old filly Gojocci that also collected her maiden win.
Gojocci, who is a full sister to 2006 Cranbourne Cup winner Blue Collar Jack, defeated John Salanitri’s favourite Blistered in the Ross J Hopkins 60th Birthday Maiden Plate and Keys said the horse had a big future.
“She’s taken a long time to mature, for the penny to drop as a racehorse, but I think she’ll go on now,” he said.
“She’ll get to the city, mare’s grade, so there’s something to look forward to with her.”