Allan Kehoe is excited about the prospects of his stayer Billy Can and has plans for an assault on the Brisbane Carnival if the three-year-old performs up to expectations.
The Sebring gelding out of Group 1 winning mare Ofcourseican, resumes in the Benchmark 62 over 1350m at Wyong’s Men Of Football Central Coast Raceday.
Billy Can, who is raced by Aberdeen based owner/breeder David Bentata, has had six starts to date for a win and three placings but Kehoe believes it easily could have been two victories.
“There were excuses for him at Wyong over the 1600m on Magic Millions Day and he was still only just beaten,” he said. “We always knew he was going to be suited over more ground. I think the further he goes the stronger and better he will get. That’s what he did last preparation.”
Kehoe said he recognised early on that Billy Can would be a stayer.
“I told the owner as soon as we get him over a journey he won’t look back and we got him over the mile and he should have won both races. “He went from a maiden win to a Benchmark 65 and just got beat. When we get over 2000m I think he will be a weapon.”
He said Billy Can was the “best bred horse in my barn.”
“He’s a beautiful horse and I’ll be shocked if I don’t win a decent race with him. His brother was just passed in at the sales for $380,000.
“It is great to have such a well-bred horse. We have his sister, she’s a Pierro two-year-old and she can scoot too.
”His mum won the Coolmore and he showed us last prep what we thought he had. He went out on a real good note. We could have raced him again but wanted to give him a bit of time because he was so big and gangly.”
Kehoe said they had put plenty of work into the gelding for a first up start over the 1350m.
“I think running first up over 1200m, he got home around Newcastle really strong. We have got him wound enough to go to 1350m straight away because we want to get to the 2000m.
“We will just let him fall out and do his thing and if he wins it’s a bonus. As long as he’s hitting the line we’ll have a smile on our faces.”
Keogh also considers Fudgewedge, who lines up in the 1000m 3YO Maiden, a good chance first up.
“She’s a likeable horse. She trialled half alright the other day and would have to be a chance looking at the race.
“I’ve got a bit of an opinion of her. I think she will be a pretty handy horse and should win a mid-week race or two. She’s bred well enough and the mare has had a couple of Listed winners already.”
The three-year-old, by Foxwedge out of Mermaid Island, has had one start for a second over the 1000m on December 21 at Wyong.
“She copped a clod in the eye and I needed to get her eye sorted out. She probably would of only had the one start anyway but she’s had a little freshen up and has come back well.
“She was unlucky not to win in Magic Million day and I think she’ll have a chance in this race.”
Fudgewede is also owned by David Bentata and is raced by Kehoe’s partner Kim Clarke.
The stable has a third runner, Story of Tong Sai, in the 1200m Maiden.
“He’s just having a barrier trial really. He’s a 2000m horse and I think he’ll win out in the bush somewhere.”
SELECTIONS:
RACE 1 – 12.35pm: WYONG RACE AGAIN MAY 3 MAIDEN PLATE (1350m): 1 CITY OF LOVE, 2 Cormac, 3 Miss Demi, 4 Spin Bowles.
RACE 2 – 1.10pm: EARLY BIRD MEMBERSHIP $55 MAIDEN HANDICAP (1600m): 1 DASHING SPECIAL, 2 Royal Anthem, 3 Dream Genie, 4 Instinctual.
RACE 3 – 1.50pm: CLUBS CHALLENGE RACEDAY MAY 22 – TABLE OF 10 $1000 MAIDEN PLATE (1000m): 1 SANITY, 2 Lexiloo, 3 Fudgewedge, 4 Bullseye Score.
RACE 4 – 2.25pm: MEN OF FOOTBALL CENTRAL COAST CHAPTER MAIDEN HANDICAP (1200m): 1 TANIKO, 2 Resonare, 3 Cortesta, 4 Ritzy Roxie.
RACE 5 – 3.05pm: PHOENIX FIRE PROTECTION PROVINCIAL CLASS 4 HANDICAP (1600m): 1 RAISE THE LIMIT, 2 Fancy Nickers, 3 Lightning Lockie, 4 Good Host.
RACE 6 – CSR BRADFORD BENCHMARK 63 HANDICAP (2100m): 1 CELEBRIS, 2 Word Games, 3 Parnossos, 4 Gerogica.
RACE 7 – MEN OF FOOTBALL CENTRAL COAST CHAPTER BENCHMARK 62 HANDICAP (1350m): 1 HEAT HAZE, 2 Social Pirate, 3 Cheeky Bella, 4 Billy Do.
RACE 8 – CHRISTMAS IN JULY SATURDAY 14th – SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE CLASS 1 HCP (1200m): 1 MONTRACHET, 2 Siam, 3 Nais Ko, 4 Sweet Bouquet
