Inter Dominion Grand Final placegetter Keayang Stuka is back on the trail of the sport’s Holy Grail after his first up all the way win in the Bendigo Locksmiths Free For All Trot on Saturday night.
The Marg and Paddy Lee trained six-year-old had sufficient gate speed to find the front and was joined by stablemate Imperial Monarch with a lap to travel.
The pair engaged in a spirited battle down the home straight with Keayang Stuka prevailing by a head in a mile rate of 1:55.7 over the 1650 metre sprint trip.
Driver Lochie Cook said he was able to back off the tempo after the early burn.
“It was quick early but once he got to the front, I was able to get a little breather and had enough in the tank to hold them all off,” Cook said.
“He felt great travelling on the bit quite nice the whole way and obviously they both fought it out well and they both hit the line well, “he said.
Keayang Stuka finished third behind The Locomotive in the 2024 Inter Dominion Final and Cook believes the winner can return to that form this campaign.
“He came third in the Inter Dominion two years ago and we think he is up to it and is a really nice horse,” he said.
“Last prep he built and built, and while showing promise, he never really got to that level we thought he could get to so we turned him out.
His fast work and trackwork at home have been really good this time in so hopefully he can take that next step”.
Team Lee and Cook combined for a winning double later in the night when The Priestess overcame an early blunder to score a stunning win in the Haras Des Trotteurs Trot.
Sent out a $2.40 favorite, The Priestess broke at the start before settling buried along the pegs at the rear of the field.
Despite giving the leader Six Nations many lengths with 400 metres to travel, The Priestess produced a withering finishing burst to score running away by three metres.
“I thought the race was over for us after we made that early error but at around the 400-metre mark she felt really good and the gates opened up so we took the run and she proved how good she can be when she shows up- it was a massive run,” Cook said.
The state’s leading stable completed a winning treble after the highly promising four-year-old Keayang Renegade staked an early claim for a berth in The Eureka with an authoritative win in the Garrards Horse & Hound Final.
A prohibitive $1.15 favorite, Keayang Renegade worked to the lead with a lap to travel and proved far too strong for his rivals returning a slick mile rate of 1:52.7 for the 1650 metres.
Driver Jason Lee admitted the stable would be receptive should any of the slot holders exhibit interest in the unbeaten son of American Ideal.
“The uncles and Marg would be more than happy to answer the phone,” Lee said.
“We would definitely put our hat in the ring and there is a lot that’s got to happen between now and then but at the moment he’s probably the hot horse on the scene with a lot of the other horses not racing,” he said.
Trainer Philip Chircop, who prepares a small team at Bacchus Marsh, was the other multiple visitor to the winner’s stall after landing a winning double with New Shuffle and Maxnjax.
New Shuffle ($3.40) reeled off a 26.5 last 400 metres in holding off the $1.35 favorite Arrhythmia by a metre.
Driver James Herbertson believes the winner is capable of snaring a feature race in the future.
“He’s going to be in that class for the rest of his career, the better ones of his age group and he’ll pick up a nice race eventually,” Herbertson said.
