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2022 09 29

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Moonee Valley Racing Club respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of this land – the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people of the Kulin Nation – and pays our respects to its Elders past, present, and emerging.

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Stable favourite Keats enjoying a new lease on life with Bedggood

<div>A son of champion sire Galileo and previously owned by Coolmore and trained by Aidan O’Brien, Irish import Keats has certainly taken his time finding his feet in Australia – but a new environment with new trainer Gavin Bedggood seems to have sparked him back into life.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>A Listed winner in the Navigation Stakes back on 29 September 2020, Keats came to Australia as a three-year-old with decent prospects. He was thrown straight into Group 3 company by Mike Moroney before disappointing to finish 15 of 16. He mixed his form in his time stabling at Flemington – a fourth placed effort in the Wodonga Gold Cup, the highlight of his 2021 campaign. But a switch across to Cranbourne, and a new environment at Gavin Bedggood’s, has the northern hemisphere five-year-old building back up to his form of old.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Keats was bought on an Inglis Digital online auction, by The Mailbag team, a spritely and popular group of punters who have their own tipping service, podcast and, recently, have entered the Bloodstock game. He was given to Bedggood, who has had an outstanding record with tried horses, and that was again to the fore when Keats bolted in at Sale by nearly five lengths in his first start under new training. He then ran a game fourth at an unusually sodden track at Flemington.&nbsp;</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>“I thought his win at Sale was great. I thought he was really well ridden by the 3kg claiming apprentice (Hannah Le Blanc) and I thought his next run at Flemington was full of merit too,” Bedggood told us.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>“I love getting a hold of these tried horses and finding out what makes them tick, and I think a change of environment for this horse has been a really big thing.”</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Bedggood made the official switch from highweight jockey to trainer in 2017. He is now enjoying life from the other side of the fence with 22 boxes at his Clyde property, all operational with 22 corresponding yards for all of his horses. The 36-year-old has been lauded for his highly detailed and transparent report back to his owners – something he places tremendous pride in and something he vows to keep consistent despite a growing team of horses in work.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>“When we first started out, we didn’t have a lot of horses, and that was one thing I really wanted to make sure was thorough.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>“We get a weekly video out to everyone and an audio update post a gallop or a race. As I got bigger, I wanted to make sure that was something that didn’t slip.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>“It’s really important to me. Owners pay a lot of money. Communication is the key, so if you’re keeping everyone informed and you’re transparent with people, you don’t normally have a problem.”</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Bedggood will run Keats this Friday night at The Valley in the Benchmark 78 over 2040 metres. With Craig Williams to ride again, the pair are likely to employ similar front-running tactics again, which could be crucial with the rail out seven metres.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>“I’d just like to see him rolling along on speed. He probably doesn’t have a great turn of foot, but he can sustain a long gallop.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>So, we’ll just give him his chance, be up on speed and make it a truly run race and not a sit-and-sprint affair.”</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Keats has developed an interesting habit of doing the “Spanish walk” in the mounting yard, something that has sparked great interest among his growing legion of fans and a trait that goes hand-in-hand with his quirky nature as a rising cult figure.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>“He’s a bit of a character. I don’t know if he’s always done that, but he quite often does that on the way out to the sandhills and quite often on his way back in coming off the truck after the races too.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>“He’s got a bit of a following at Cranbourne. Everyone knows him, and everyone sees him coming.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>“Hopefully, he can become better known for his deeds on the racetrack.”</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Keats will have his tap shoes on this Friday night as he parades around the famous Valley mounting yard, and let’s hope for his growing cult status that he can lead them a merry dance.&nbsp;</div>

Rothfire fairytale continues on Friday night in sizzling Moir | The Valley

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Read about the sizzling Moir night and Rothfire's fairytale journey as it continues on Friday. Stay updated with thrilling race coverage and highlights.

Discover the excitement of the Moir night with Rothfire's captivating journey. Get the latest updates on races and key moments.