Keen Array again demonstrated his liking for the Caulfield track with a hard-fought win over the fast-finishing Well Sprung in Saturday's Listed Testa Rossa Stakes (1200m).
It was the first win for the son of Bel Esprit since the Listed Blue Sapphire Stakes over the same track and distance last October.
Always in a forward position under Dwayne Dunn, Keen Array battled his way to the front only to come under attack from the late-finishing Well Sprung.
The judge found a margin of a nose for Keen Array with Santa Ana Lane a neck away third. (photo Grant Courtney).
Also a winner at Caulfield 12 months ago, Keen Array has only one failure on the track, that coming in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate in February.
Tom Dabernig, who trains the winner in partnership with David and Ben Hayes, hasn't given up on a win at the elite level despite the 4yo gelding having a disappointing autumn campaign.
"It really shows he's back in form,” Dabernig said.
"He travelled really well in the race and looked the winner and I must admit I thought he had won clearly but he just held on.”
"It's a case of a horse having a busy spring and not coming up in the autumn which can happen.
"The positive from that was we were able to give him a good long spell and he's come back stronger and with a zest for racing again.
"We might look at backing him up in the Sir Rupert Clarke but we'll see - we might just keep him at the 1200 (metres).”
Passed in at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale when failing to make his $30,000 reserve, and later bought privately from the estate of his breeder Oliver Wong, Keen Array advances his overall record to 5 wins, 3 seconds and 1 third from 13 starts with earnings of $598,550.
He is the second winner for his dam Moorea, a winning Zabeel half-sister to Group I HK International Mile winner The Duke.
Purchased out of the Wood Nook Farm draft at the 2012 Magic Millions National Broodmare sale for $100,000, Moorea has a yearling colt by Dundeel (NZ) and was bred back to the New Zealand-born champion at Arrowfield Stud last spring.
The prolific Bel Esprit was well received by Queensland breeders last spring covering 140 mares at Sun Stud for a fee of $18,700 and remains at that fee this year.
