Racing
Keys open to another Cranbourne Cup
Ken and Kasey Keys have Scheelite aimed at their hometown Cup.
Ken and Kasey Keys has been a stalwart of the Cranbourne racing scene for many years and would like to add another local Cup to the trophy cabinet.
With two wins in the Listed Cranbourne Cup to his credit – Blue Collar Jack (2006) and Boom 'N' Zoom (2011) – Keys is this year relying on Scheelite in the 1600m handicap on Saturday.
But first Scheelite needs to secure a run in the race as he currently sits number 24 in the order of entry for $500,000 contest, a race that has a safety limit of 16 plus four emergencies.
Keys, who trains Scheelite in partnership with his daughter Kasey, has the back-up option of the $200,000 Kilmore Cup (1600m) on Sunday.
The father-and-daughter partnership delayed the return of Scheelite to training this campaign with the Cranbourne Cup having a big circle around it.
While feature spring races are always on their mind, a third Cranbourne Cup victory also has a nice ring to it.
"It would be the ultimate really," Keys senior said.
"It would be pretty special to win a third. It's a little ambition and this has been the home track for ever.
"But it's getting tough to get into this race now and if he doesn't get in, we'll go to Kilmore on Sunday."
Scheelite has been a cause of frustration for Keys and his daughter.
The son of Real Steel won his first two starts as a two-year-old before being set for a three-year-old spring campaign that saw him contest both the Caulfield Guineas (finishing seventh) and the Coolmore Stud Stakes (11th).
Campaigns were mixed the following autumn and spring before he was eventually gelded and returned to winning form at Bendigo in April.
He chased home Pride Of Jenni in the Anniversary Vase at Caulfield in May before running fifth in Adelaide to end his campaign.
This time around, Scheelite finished sixth first-up at Caulfield before running second in the Peninsula Cup (1600m) at Mornington on November 2.
"I'm really happy with how he is going," keys said.
"The other day at Mornington, it's probably one that got away. He got to the front, and then he probably took a bit of a break.
"We're hoping he gets in (on Saturday) and can give it a shake."
Jordan Childs will take the ride on Saturday.
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