John Key places faith in his horse, Travelling Gigolo for glory this Hobart Cup

Bookmakers may have written him off, but his trainer John Key has faith Travelling Gigolo has what it takes to win the Hobart Cup. Here’s why.

Tegan Keys track work rider with The Inevitable trained by John Keys that will run in the Thomas Lyons Stakes on Hobart Cup Day 2025. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Trainer John Keys will be chasing his first Hobart Cup success on Sunday, when he saddles up Travelling Gigolo in the $250,000 feature.

Keys, who was born on King Island, has been training at Wesley Vale on the state’s North-West Coast for some time, and expanded his training operation to include a stable at Seven Mile Beach in September 2023 when taking on several horses trained by Scott Brunton who had his licence to train revoked at that time.

One horse he picked up was Travelling Gigolo, who was runner up to Military Mission in the 2023 Cup, before finishing fifth in last year’s running. Keys believes that bookmakers may have the price wrong, having the seven-year-old gelding as the outside in betting for this year’s race.

“He is not a $51 shot like the bookmakers think he is,” Keys said.

“He is a proven horse at the distance.

“I know he hasn’t been getting the results of late but those distances haven’t been suitable,” said the trainer.

The all female owned gelding won over the Cup distance at his latest win in a 2400m race at Elwick in May, and two starts ago was just under two lengths from the winner in the Brighton Cup.

Tegan Keys track work rider with The Inevitable trained by John Keys that will run in the Thomas Lyons Stakes on Hobart Cup Day 2025. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

While the 151st running of the Hobart Cup is the feature race, the eyes of the racing purist will be glued on one of the support features, the Thomas Lyons Stakes, where the state’s best Weight For Age will compete over 1400m. The event is headlined by star Tasmanian The Inevitable who takes on the new kid on the block Durazzo.

Keys will also saddle up Sailor and Cartoon Graveyard in the $125,000 event.

The Inevitable joined Keys stable in late 2023, and in his 42-start career has won 18 races and more than $2.1m in prizemoney.

“He never ceases to amaze me. A couple of times I thought he can’t win in the run but he just finds a way,” Keys said.

“Even Craig Newitt who’s been riding him says he just sits there and the horse tells him when it’s time to go.

“This race and the Hellova Street Stakes in Launceston have been his targets this prep given the Weight For Age conditions,” Keys said.

While the nine-year-old gelding is in the twilight of his racing career, he is still recording feature race wins, with his last two starts being victories in the Conquering Stakes and the Tasmania Stakes in late December – both races were at listed level.

“We have kept him ticking over since his last run, his grass gallop at Elwick during the week was really good.

“I don’t get too cocky or confident, I just go there and hope for the best and make sure he is fit and healthy and he is both of those things, and in all due respect to everyone else, at equal weights I think he is certainly good enough.

His main danger Durazzo has won seven of his nine starts, including the Three and Four Year Old Magic Millions Classic in Launceston last Sunday.

*Duncan Dornauf is also a race caller for Sky Racing.

Originally published as John Key places faith in his horse, Travelling Gigolo for glory this Hobart Cup