Racing champ a definite keeper

When 20 Rockingham business owners came together earlier this year to buy a 10 per cent share in a racehorse, they had no idea it would soon turn out to be a champion.

The owners’ share of two-year-old gelding Keeper Keen was put up for auction at the Rockingham Kwinana Chamber of Commerce-sponsored Long Table Lunch in March.

Breeder Ron Sayers donated the prize in the name of charity along with a year of free training by Karnup-based trainer Dan Pearce.

Rockingham Apartments owner Rob McGavin organised the group of 20 owners, which included City of Rockingham Mayor Barry Sammels and RKCC chief executive Tony Solin.

“I thought it would be quite fun to get a group of people who all knew each other involved in the racing industry,” he said. “We knew the horse had good breeding and while there was a chance he could be a winner, you never know what you are going to get when it comes to horses.”

Keeper Keen ran third in his first trial, won his second and then headed straight to Ascot and won a $60,000 two-year-old race on November 11 with room to spare.

He maintained his unbeaten run when he was steered to victory by champion WA jockey Jarrad Noske in the $100,000 Mumm Champagne-Crystal Slipper listed race at Ascot on November 26.

Mr Solin is one of the 18 members of the group who have never owned a racehorse before.

“So far, it has been amazing to be a part of this success story,” he said.

“We all went up to Ascot for both wins, which was a lot of fun, and I enjoyed seeing a horse I am involved with perform so well.”

Mr McGavin said Keeper Keen was now enjoying a spell before his return to the track in April.

“This horse is a pretty big deal — he is even attracting interest from overseas” he said. “The story began with us supporting the SOUL Soup Patrol at the lunch and now we have a cross-section of the business community getting together to celebrate race victories. We are all looking forward to making it happen again at next year’s event with a new horse.”