Peachy Keen capped a super-consistent spring campaign with a last-gasp victory in Sunday’s $50,000 Happy Hire Cromwell Cup (2030m).
Trained in Timaru by Leonard and Lacy Stewart, Peachy Keen came into his five-year-old season with two wins and a placing to his name in an 18-start career. He had earned just over $33,000 and had a rating of 62.
Now the Reliable Man gelding has had 25 starts for four wins, five seconds and $118,005 in prize-money.
Peachy Keen began his season with three second placings – a 1400m Rating 75 at Oamaru, a 1580m Rating 65 at Riccarton, and a 2200m Rating 65 at Timaru.
He won an 1800m Rating 75 at Riccarton with a stake of $40,000 on October 25, then returned to Christchurch for two appearances during the New Zealand Cup Carnival earlier this month – a second placing in a $65,000 Rating 75 over 2000m, beaten by a head by Sunset Boulevard, and then a fourth in a 2600m Rating 82. That was the only time he has finished further back than second this season.
Sunday brought a deserved return to the winner’s circle. Peachy Keen was patiently ridden by Gosen Jogoo and settled in third-last as Peecee Pussycat and Vamos charged forward and set a strong tempo out in front.
Jogoo got Peachy Keen off the rail coming down the side of the track, then unleashed him down the outside of the home straight.
In the meantime Master Marko, Tumuch and Sestina surged out of the pack and looked like fighting out the finish, but Peachy Keen powered home out widest and pipped Master Marko by a nose right on the finish line.
“He’s a gutsy little horse,” Leonard Stewart said. “When he’s in the finish, he really fights and gives his all. He’s had a very good spring, and we’re thrilled to get this win today for a fantastic syndicate of owners. Gos gave him a great ride.
“We’ll see where his rating is after this and talk through some future plans with the syndicate. Wherever we decide to go with him, we know that he’ll always fight and give us his best.”
Peachy Keen was bred by The Oaks Stud and is by Reliable Man out of the three-race-winning Keeninsky mare Keenly, who is also the dam of Gr.2 Royal Stakes (2000m) placegetter Luminous.
Peachy Keen was a $6,250 purchase on Gavelhouse.com as a three-year-old in April of last year.
The Cromwell Cup completed a race-to-race double for the Stewarts, who also finished first and third with Palace Princess and Sympathique in the $40,000 Positive Signs + Print Rating 65 (1220m). – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk.
