‘He just didn’t give up’: Keats wins 2023 Werribee Cup

Equal favourite Keats defied Junipal in a “dogfight” to claim the $150,000 Werribee Cup (1600m) on Sunday.

Keats, ridden by Linda Meech, wins the TAB Werribee Cup. Picture: Brett Holburt Racing Photos

Equal favourite Keats defied Junipal in a “dogfight” to claim the $150,000 Werribee Cup (1600m) on Sunday.

Clearly headed on straightening the Gavin Bedggood-trained galloper responded to the urging of jockey Linda Meech, who won the Werribee Cup in 2021 aboard Starcaster, to reclaim the lead and win.

“He came under a lot of pressure and Ciaron Maher’s horse Junipal really put it to him,” Meech said in the mounting yard interview on Racing.com.

“He just didn’t give up, he kept fighting and I was pretty happy to beat (jockey) Harry (Coffey).”

The pressure came from Junipal, but Keats responded with a gutsy win in the Werribee Cup 🏆@GavinBedggoodpic.twitter.com/sWIKVgsGwH

— Racing.com (@Racing) December 10, 2023

The win was just reward for Keats, Bedggood and connections after the consistent six-year-old placed in the Sale Cup and Group 3 Eclipse Stakes the past two starts.

“He’s very genuine, if they all tried as hard as him it would make my job very easy,” Bedggood said.

“When Junipal got a neck on him I was a little bit worried but he’s so honest, he loves a dogfight and he doesn’t know when to lay down, he’s a more than deserving winner of a race like this.”

Keats and Junipal were equal $3.10 favourites with TAB but all the late money was on the runner-up.

Ascension, who led the field up, held on for third from First Mate.

"All the way for Station One."

A superb performance from @alanajkelly_ & the @HowleyRacing-trained galloper 👏 pic.twitter.com/SegfYiHgrl

— Racing.com (@Racing) December 10, 2023

Meanwhile, Station One led all the way to win the Traralgon Cup (1900m) from last year’s winner Starspangled Baby and Samedi.

Jockey Alana Kelly rated the Liam Howley-trained galloper perfectly in the early and middle stages to leave enough in the locker to repel the challengers late.

Station One also won the Dunkeld Cup last start.

Ain’t nothing better than ownership of a horse with a few mates surely #[e-mail]/YEJ4yUcfdA

— Ted Lindon (@TedLindon) December 10, 2023

Originally published as ‘He just didn’t give up’: Keats wins 2023 Werribee Cup