Australian Racing: Keats to flow home at Kyneton

After a busy Cup Day on Tuesday there are just three meetings taking place on Wednesday, with Kyneton, Grafton and Port Lincoln all set to race.

Race 8 Kyneton

Keats @ 5.00

Race 5 Grafton

Thrownunderthebus @ 6.50

Race 5 Port Lincoln

Artful Ambition @ 6.50

Keats to claim Kyneton Cup

The feature race at Kyneton is the penultimate contest on a nine-race card, the bet365 Kyneton Cup.

A field of nine have been declared for the 2006m open handicap, with Promises Kept expected to jump as favourite for the Ciaron Maher stable.

The five-year-old failed to shine over 1400m at Flemington in his first two starts this prep and returned to form with a second at Moonee Valley last time.

That Moonee Valley effort saw the gelding beaten one-and-a-half-lengths in the Group 3 JRA Cup over the Cox Plate course and distance.

Declan Bates’ mount raced on a good 4 track that day and there is a slight concern about him with regard to the soft 5 surface expected here.

KEATS is preferred in this contest, with the gelding having registered Cup wins at Werribee and Moe in the last 12 months.

The veteran galloper came home five lengths clear of his rivals in a six-runner renewal of the Moe Cup when last in action last month.

The 5.00 eight-year-old raced on a heavy 8 track over 2050m at Moe, while he has also won in Listed company in Tasmania in 2024.

Gavin Bedggood’s representative is a versatile type with regard to underfoot conditions and he is expected to race from the front.

Celine Gaudray, on board last time out, is again set to ride here and the pair look capable of completing a double.

Thrownunderthebus can salute at Grafton

An eight-race card is programmed for Flemington with the fifth race an 1175m Benchmark 58 handicap.

A good 4 track is expected for the race with the lightly raced Groovy Day expected to prove popular with punters.

The four-year-old debuted with a solid fifth when making her debut over 1115m at this venue in May.

The filly was beaten four-and-a-half-lengths that day and followed it up with a half-length success in a 1200m maiden at Murwillumbah in June.

The daughter of Domesday is set to encounter a sound surface for the first time here and, while she holds obvious claims, she looks opposable in this event.

John Shelton sends out THROWNUNDERTHEBUS in this field with the filly having shown improved form this prep.

The filly resumed with a half-length second on a heavy 10 surface when contesting a 1000m maiden at this track at the start of last month.

The 6.50 pick went on to fill the same position when beaten a length at Murwillumbah when encountering a heavy 9 track two weeks later.

Kirk Matheson took the ride for the first time, with the pair breaking through for a win when saluting by over a length in an 1125m maiden here last time.

The three-year-old raced on a good 4 track for the first time since debuting at Toowoomba in September last year that day and she is taken to follow up.

Artful Ambition for victory at Port Lincoln

The fifth race at Port Lincoln is a 1000m Benchmark 72 handicap, with ARTFUL AMBITION selected to register a win.

The veteran galloper ended his last prep with a half-length victory over 12120m on a good 4 track here at the start of March.

The 6.50 pick has been in good form in two starts at this Benchmark 72 level this prep, including when fourth over this course and distance first up.

Trained by Julie Branford & Hayley Dorward, the gelding was beaten just a length when third over this track and trip last time.

Anna Jordsjo, on board for that third-place finish, takes the ride once more and her mount looks capable of breaking through for his first win this prep.