Keayang Steamer winning Sunday’s Maryborough Cup first-up from an eight-month spell – and having run only twice in 14 months – speaks volumes for the training ability of Marg Lee and her Terang team.
The seven-year-old worked around the field to breeze for the final 1400 metres of the 2690-metre Group 3 event, racing to the lead at the home turn before holding off the swooping Lets Elope late for a 1.3-metre victory in a rate of 2:00.7 (splits 31.2, 30.3, 28.6 and 27.2 – last half 55.8).
Keayang Steamer had victories over retired champions Smoken Up and Melpark Major in his form line from 2014. He won the 2014 Horsham Pacing Cup in terrific style.
However, niggling issues plagued his last preparation and Lee and her team had patiently nursed the gelding along with plenty of hill work and several trials in the lead-up to Sunday’s feature.
Now the Summer of Glory jewels – the Victoria and Hunter Cup – will be back on the radar.
Brent Lilley’s Lets Elope hit the line solidly on Sunday and country cup success for him looks just around the corner, while Dean Braun-trained Macho Comacho led and battled on gamely for third. He too looks to have a win in him sooner rather than later.
>Re-live Keayang Steamer taking out Sunday’s Central Goldfields Shire Maryborough Gold Cup
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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