Ruby Keeping On Trial For Futurity Start

UNBEATEN Ruby Keeping is on trial at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.

The daughter of Superior Panama and Shelley Keeping has won all four of her starts over 516m at Dubbo for owner-trainer Charmaine Roberts and she has drawn the rails for her Wentworth Park debut on Saturday night and is a very short priced favourite for the 520m 5th Grade.

Charmaine's partner, Shayne Stiff, said Ruby Keeping had as much potential as any of the class gallopers to come out of their Dubbo kennel.

“She is a magnificent 30 kilo bitch, absolutely beautiful,” he said. “But, she has had only one trial at Wenty and got car sick on the way down.

“It is about six hours from Dubbo to Wenty and Charmaine gave her a couple of hours in the kennels before she put her around. She trialled only fair, but we have got a bit of luck coming up with the rails at Wenty.

“Her immediate future, and that includes a run in the Group 1 National Futurity series, all depends on how she goes on Saturday night.

“We will not commit her to anything until we see how she runs.”

Dam Shelley Keeping, a Group 3 SA Oaks runner-up, has become a fine producer with Squiggle Keeping (22 wins, $87,000) and Memphis Keeping (14 wins, $60,000) her best.

“The Superior Panama litter is very good,” said Shayne. “Jumpy Keeping has run the fastest maiden at Dubbo while Paul Keeping, Lance Keeping and Pauline Keeping are all showing huge potential.

“At Ruby Keeping's first 300m around Dubbo she went 18.20.

“She has continued to improve her times with racing but still needs to take another step to be a good city performer.”

He likes the litter so much, Shayne has since whelped another litter by Superior Panama and bought another straw for him.

“I have also been lucky to get a straw for that great Irish dog Pestana, one of the few to come to Australia, and we have used it on Shelley Keeping,” said Shayne.

Ruby Keeping will be racing in honour of Ronny Roberts, Charmaine's father who died on Wednesday morning aged 78,

“He was a great old dog man who only ever had a couple of dogs in work but always have handy runners,” said Shayne. “Most of our damline goes back to the lines Ronny had years ago.”