Successful trip for Keast

Bruce Stewart Journalist

Weedon trainer Darren Keast is heading home tonight satisfied that his trip down south with a handful of horses was successful and he’s already planning his return.

Keast has been in the south for four weeks and today’s win at Winton by Seaside Fantasy (Downbytheseaside) was his fourth. His other wins were with Tosana at the Northern Southland and Tuapeka meetings and Surreal Moran at Wyndham. All four were driven by Mark Hurrell.

“It’s been a good trip and I’m very fortunate to have built an association with Brent and Raewyn Shirley. I come down here and I’m pretty much part of the family. Seaside Fantasy and Tosana will come back down for the Canada Stakes in December at Ascot Park,” Keast said.

In the SBSR/Diamond Creek Farm Mobile Pace, driver Mark Hurrell settled Seaside Fantasy back in the field before he got her going inside the 300.

“She was a bit flat when I came round the bend but she hasn’t had too many starts so she probably got a wee bit lost. As soon as I straightened up I thought ‘I’ve got this’ even though I was giving them lengths,” Hurrell said.

Seaside Fantasy let down in what commentator Craig Rail described as ‘a barnstorming finish.’

“Turning into the straight she just flew. You could just feel her drop her arse and go. Not many of them can do that.”

Keast wasn’t sure how the three year old would go today.

‘She’s been down here two weeks and I missed a trial last week. I took her to Wyndham for a quiet run in a learners heat then the Invercargill trials were cancelled, so she’s only had one workout. So she should improve.”

Seaside Fantasy qualified and had two runs for Greendale trainer Norm Leacock-Jones.

“I saw her race in both of her starts. At her last start early in the year I was really taken by her run,” Keast said.

He recommended her to some friends in Australia but no deal was struck and Darren’s grandfather Paul Renwick bought her.

Such was Keast’s opinion of the filly that Seaside Fantasy was earmarked for the Southern Oaks, but the plan didn’t eventuate.

“She wasn’t even meant to be on this trip but all the credit has to go to my foreman James McDonald. He does all the work with her and the rest is history.”

Seaside Fantasy is one of two foals out of Red River Hanover mare Karanga Red Fantasy who stems from one of SBSR breeder Dave Kennedy’s foundation mares Wave Eyre.