IRISH apprentice Ronan Keogh returned to Tasmania in January and immediately set his sights on winning this season’s apprentice’s premiership and a win in Launceston yesterday has taken him a small step closer to achieving the goal.
Keogh took his season tally to 25 and four clear of his nearest rival James Riordan when he guided the John Blacker-trained King Of Gondor to a stirring win in the Sport 927 Handicap (C4) over 1200m.
It was a masterful ride and one of conviction and courage.
King Of Gondor settled worse than midfield and at one stage it looked as if the lightly-raced four-year-old would struggle to get a clear shot at them in the straight.
But Keogh showed fearless tactics in searching for a narrow gap that appeared at a crucial stage in the straight.
The horse responded by taking the run and when the rider called on his charge to extent he burst through the pack and hit the line with a nose to spare over outsider Phyl’s Choice with the favourite Kalangadoo only a half-neck astern.
It was a thrilling finish but one in which Keogh didn’t think he’d be participating at the top of the straight.
“John (trainer Blacker) told me the horse would get home strongly but I didn’t think he’d get home that strong,” Keogh said.
“I had to take a chance in the race because it was touch and go whether I got the run I was looking for.”
“But the horse bounded through the gap really well and showed no hesitation in taking the run.”
“It was a top win and I’m sure the horse is a genuine wet tracker,” he said.
Blacker praised the horse, describing him as a “late maturer”.
“He’s turned the corner now but he will probably be even better in 12 months.”
“We are hoping he develops into a handy middle distance horse (1600-2000m),” Blacker said.