Keayang Ignite was a star on the rise through the back end of 2019 when he claimed Group 1 glory during an unbeaten four-run stretch to kick-start his career.
A thumping win in the elite-level Home Grown Classic was the exclamation mark on that campaign, but almost four years and a global pandemic would pass before trainer Paddy Lee’s trotter would be seen at the races again.
A slashing first-up third to High Energy on September 8 showed his top-end ability was still there and the now six-year-old was driven like the best horse in the Irvin Howard Memorial Trot at Melton on Saturday night. Glen Craven let Keayang Ignite balance up from outside the front row, but quickly pushed the button and sent his charge to the head of affairs. From there he dictated terms, powering home in closing quarters of 27.8 and 28.8 to hold off a gallant Aldebaran Keepa by just over 3m on the line.
It was a special victory for Craven, but one he refused to take any credit for.
“I got to do the easy part at the finish,” he said.
“He should be undefeated. I under-drove him last week, but hopefully that’ll hold him in good stead.
“It’s just rewards for the patience that (Lee and his team) have shown in him and the amount of effort they’ve put into him.
“I can’t claim anything.”
Keayang Ignite has now won five of six career starts for prizemoney earnings up over $50,000.
“He’s still pretty underdone, and Paddy’s just taking him steady and just getting him back to racing,” Craven said.
“Fingers crossed he can stay sound and show his true potential.”
The Real Sherlock began erasing the disappointment of missing his shot at Group 1 glory in the Vicbred Super Series and tuned up for next month’s Victoria Derby with a crushing return to the races at Melton on Saturday night.
Mark and Nathan Purdon’s star was scratched from the VSS three-year-old colts and geldings’ decider last weekend due to a foot abscess, but showed no ill effects of that issue as he scored a dominant victory in the Centre State Printing 3YO Pace.
He was gifted the lead by his rivals over the long 2760m trip and ripped home in a scintillating final quarter of 25.6 to defeat Louie Lou I by close to four metres.
“He’s a high-quality horse and he’s shown that,” driver Greg Sugars said.
“It was absolutely rotten luck last week missing that race. Not to say that he was going to win it, but he would have been in the mix.
“It’s good to have him back on track now.”
The Real Sherlock won his first start on Australian soil in a heat of the Vicbred series at Ballarat and then faded for third in the semi-final at Melton after being involved in a serious early speed battle with Perfect Class.
Before being scratched from the Group 1 final, he was regarded as one of the key dangers to favourite and eventual winner Petracca.
The horse is one of four here in Australia with New Zealander Nathan Purdon, who is based out of Jess Tubbs and Sugars’ stables in Myrniong.
Sugars couldn’t help but smile when asked if he’d be sticking with The Real Sherlock for his tilt at the Victoria Derby, which begins with the heats at Melton on October 7.
“I don’t look like getting off him anytime soon,” he said.
Queen Elida scored a last-gasp victory in the TAB Chris Howe Trotters Free For All to extend her picket fence to five, while driver Jordan Leedham (Lip Reader and La Captain) and trainer Emma Stewart (Treachery and Act Now) both landed winning doubles at Melton on Saturday night.
