Time Keeper Takes ANZAC Feature

It's been almost two-years since Time Keeper (NZ) has returned to the winners' stall but the five-year-old rewarded his patient connections yesterday with a determined victory in the $50,000 Listed Manawatu ITM ANZAC 1600 at Awapuni.

Trained by Graeme Nicholson, Time Keeper (Stravinsky x Organdy) flew out of the gates for jockey Harry Kasim, going straight to the lead and holding off a big run from Capone (Al Akbar) in the final 150 metres to win by half-a-neck.

In an interesting career, Time Keeper had eight starts as a two-year-old but didn't break maiden ranks until his 18th appearance at Awapuni over 2100 metres in January 2010 as a three-year-old.

The victory only hinted at what was to come from the son of Stravinsky as he won the Group 3 Manawatu Classic (2000m) in April and the Group 1 Easter Handicap at his next start, beating November Rain (Stravinsky) and the people's champion Sir Slick (Volksraad).

Bringing up a hat-trick, Time Keeper showed his class once again winning over 2000 metres at Te Rapa following his Group 1 breakthrough, but a cracked bone in his hoof meant four months rest in the paddock, and the last win for him until yesterday's pillar-to-post victory.

The return to form is a timely one for his trainer Graeme Nicholson who only recently retired Sir Slick, the multiple Group 1 winner and earner of over $2 million.

Time Keeper will now head to the Listed Rangitikei Gold Cup on May 19 before being sent out for a spell, and will be aimed at Hawke's Bay's Triple Crown in the spring.

Bred by C D Harvey, D C MacLean & T H Morris, Time Keeper was purchased by Graeme Nicholson from The Oaks Stud at New Zealand Bloodstock's 2008 Carnival Yearling Sale for $65,000. Raced by Graeme Nicholson and Frances Crimmins, his 47 career starts have netted six wins and eight placings for over $350,000 in stakes.

The Danica Guy trained Capone (Al Akbar x Good Hearted) put in what looked like the winning run down the outside and was game in defeat. Purchased by Upstage Bloodstock from Long Acres Stud for $16,000 at the 2008 South Island Sale of Two-Year-Olds, he continues the Sale's run of form which saw Inferno (Yamanin Vital) win the Group 3 Canterbury Gold Cup on Saturday.