Racing: Class wins the day as King Keitel once again delivers

Veteran galloper King Keitel is not a proven performer in wet winter track conditions but that did not stop him bouncing back to winning form at Te Rapa yesterday.

The 10-year-old has had an extensive racing career, accumulating just over $870,000 in career stake earnings and has notched a great deal of success in Australia. That includes the Group One Doomben Cup five years ago.

Yesterday's victory in the $17,000 Norris Ward McKinnon 2000 was an impressive effort as the clear topweight lumped 57 kilograms to defeat Scarlet Rose by a half length with a further long neck back to Sir Valiant (third).

"He's just a lovely old horse to ride and his class took him a fair way today to take out this race," said winning jockey Andrew Calder.

"He made the jump up from 1600 metres to 2000 metres today quite well and he showed plenty of guts over that closing 100 metres to win.

"I'm not sure what plans Paul [Jenkins, trainer] has for him as today was only his third run back from a spell.

"He's won 10 races and over $870,000 in stake earnings so his career record is faultless despite the fact a few people may think he's past his best because he's a 10-year-old."

The old firm of jockey Michael Coleman and trainers Mike and Paul Moroney combined to strike late on the programme with Mixty Motion.

The 4-year-old Entrepreneur-sired mare scored by a length over Cheerful Star with a further two lengths away to Heez Leica (third).

This was a stylish fresh-up victory record by Mixty Motion who had trialled well in preparation for this 1400 metre sprint event.

"She really climbed into it over the closing 100 metres of the race and it was a top training effort to have her spot on fresh-up for this assignment," said Coleman.

Floydeboy heads to Melbourne next month in winning form following a hard fought performance to take out the $17,000 Eric Moess Fencing 1400.

The wet track specialist unleashed a sustained sprint down the outer of the track in the hands of Gary Grylls to win by a neck over Lordship with a further length back to Opiki (third).

Cambridge-based trainer Bernard Dyke confirmed plans after the race to take Floydeboy to Melbourne for a three race campaign next month.

"The owner [Maurie McDonald] is very keen on taking the horse to race in Australia and I love a trip away myself,"said Dyke after the race.

"His work leading into this race has been first class and I knew it would be. In his last start at Ellerslie it took a smart horse in the form of Cog Hill to beat us and my horse was in need of that race.

"I knew he'd strip down a fit horse for this race and I'm looking forward to seeing him compete in Melbourne."

McDonald, 80, raced his first horse in 1951. He campaigned accomplished jumper Saskatoon in Australia a few years back without success and is optimistic Floydeboy can break his duck across the Tasman.

Said McDonald: "But it doesn't matter whether you win or not. It's all about the trip and having a good time over there."

Floydeboy has an imposing career record on heavy track conditions-five wins and four minor placings-from 10 starts and punters were quick to jump on these statistics yesterday backing the gelding into favourite.

Just The Man made a successful and impressive switch from steeplechase racing to hurdle racing in the opening event at Te Rapa yesterday.

The 8-year-old Isle Of Man gelding was given a dream sit close to the pace throughout by Nathan Hanley and pounced quickly in the home stretch with two fences remaining to power to the lead.

Just The Man scored by four lengths over the pace-setting Also Loyal with a further two lengths away to Willie Winit (third).

Trainer Davina Waddell has been mixing a dual jumping role for Just The Man and there was plenty to admire about his performance.

Just The Man has had five starts as a steeplechaser for one win and two minor placings and two starts as a hurdler for one win.

The gelding will not be hard to place during the winter racing period in either jumping role, although there was a lot to admire about his fast turn of foot in the home stretch to effortlessly take out the $8000 Waitui Blakes Boy Hurdle.

Cambridge-based trainers Ken and Ann Browne produced Havana City to score an easy victory in the maiden steeplechase.

The 6-year-old Herocity gelding has improved in each of three previous starts this season and excelled in the heavy conditions.

Havana City swept up along the inner with 600 metres remaining to challenge the leaders and strode clear over the closing two fences to win by 1 1/4 lengths over Deacon Brodie with a further 7 1/2 lengths back to Kodiak Bear (third).

This was the first win in nine starts as a steeplechaser for Havana City on top of three minor placings.

The 3kg claim of jockey Missy Browne clearly made the winning task of Havana City that little bit easier.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY