Queen's Plate Long Shot: Keino West

Keino West is a horse bred for long-distance races. Trainer Steve Attard recently offered the following on the three year-old son of Kissin Kris, "He'll go a mile and a quarter for sure. No doubt. He has no speed, like a plodder. You go five eighths of a mile or a mile and a quarter and he'll be dead last starting off, then he'll make his move. He gallops 2 1/2 miles every day like it's nothing to him."

Keino West Heads To The Track on Plate Trial Day


Recently, Keino West was a closing fifth in the Plate Trial won by Sam-Son Farms' Eye of the Leopard. The gelding is rounding into form with increasing Beyer figures in his three starts in 2009 notching a 77 in the Trial. Keino West is noted for racing in a come-from-the-clouds style circling runners from the middle of the track - a style that seems to suit the Plate's classic distance.

I caught up with Keino West's trainer Steve Attard at Thursday's Queen's Plate draw where the trainer selected the furthest outside position of post 13.

TDH: What post position are you hoping to draw for the Plate?
SA: We're planning to go to the outside, so we're thinking about post position nine or ten.

TDH: What's your strategy for Sunday?
SA: He's going to be behind. He breaks well but he sucks himself back. We're going to try and save ground as much as we can but the horse does like the outside for sure.

TDH: A lot of the experts are saying your horse is best suited to the distance. Do you agree?
SA: I agree with that. Sam-Son's horse (Eye of the Leopard) is suited to go a mile and a quarter too, but I know my horse will go the distance. We just have to see if he has the talent now.

Trainer Steve Attard Has High Hopes For Keino West


TDH: How will the two Oaks fillies being entered change the race?
SA: They're two great fillies that run hard. Only two weeks between races. I'm kind of hoping for some speed from them that will help. I know Casse's filly (Tasty Temptation) comes from off the pace but she'll probably break better this time and she might be closer to the pace too.

Owned by Dave Clancy's Track West Racing, Keino West will be the pub proprietor's first Plate entrant with the first racehorse he ever purchased. A chartered-accountant by day, Clancy is living every racing fan's dream with his first foray into the thoroughbred game. Until recently, Clancy was best known as the owner of Clancy's - an off-track betting establishment in Burlington - but all that could change this weekend. "The whole experience has been unbelievable," said Clancy. "My wife's favourite number is thirteen so we're quite happy."

Attard has been patient with Keino West as he slowly rounds the horse into form for the Plate. The gelding raced four times in 2008 breaking his maiden at 1 1/16M in his final start with a devastating late kick charging from dead last in a field of eleven to nip CrownIsle at the wire by a nose. Keino West took the winter off but does have those three improving races under his belt. "(Keino West) never went to Florida for winter, so we were behind the eight ball," stated Attard. "Every horse in the Plate Trial was winter trained somewhere, my horse wasn't. But I think he's peaking at the right time."

Attard is taking this Plate experience in stride and showed remarkable poise during Dan Loiselle's post-position draw interview when asked what concerns, if any, he had going into the race. "I don't have any concerns really," smiled Attard. "I just want to see a safe race for all the riders and animals." Given the unfortunate events of Wednesday night's accident that resulted in the death of Oliver's Strike and injuries sustained by jockeys Simon Husbands and Chad Beckon, Attard's poignant words resonated with the audience.

There will be a large Woodbine contingent cheering for the local tandem of Attard and jockey Gerry Olguin on Sunday and should they win, there will certainly be a great party at Clancy's on Sunday night. Listed as a 15-1 long shot in the morning line, there will be value for Sunday's big event. If you're looking for a hook to hang your wagering hat on, consider this: Keino West was beaten 4 1/2 lengths in the Plate Trial and this Sunday the so-called plodder has an extra eighth of a mile to make up that ground.

Hope to see you at Clancy's on Sunday.