Last week she won the $40,000 Sires on Black Top Final at Newcastle’s Ladbrokes Gardens, and on Monday evening Caitlyn Keeping’s hot form continued.
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The Charmaine Roberts-trained black bitch finished six lengths ahead of her nearest rival Emission Control ($20.70) in the third heat of the Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase at Bathurst’s Kennerson Park, securing herself a spot in Monday’s regional final.
Her 29.94 second time was the third fastest across four heats, and Roberts was happy with the run from Caitlyn Keeping’s favoured box eight.
And the decision to race at Bathurst, instead of in Dubbo’s heats, paid off.
“Bathurst is actually an easier track and she has gone exceptionally well there … that’s the track that suited her,” Roberts said.
“She ran really well and she ran really good sections … she still did get a little bit tired but she was enough in front to win.
“She didn’t run the quickest of the heats but she’s in the final and that’s all that matters.”
That final will also feature reigning Bathurst Gold Cup champion Miss Splendamiro from the Berkshire Park kennels of trainer George Borg.
At $1.20, the Barcia Bale x Splendourous bitch had a quick start out of box three and ran away to a seven length victory in 29.68 seconds.
Sky Wave (29.86 seconds), Modus Operandi (30.10), Rohan Hill (30.18), Double Up Dee (30.03), Emission Control (30.37) and Midnight Treat (30.22) will round out the regional final.
With 11 career wins from just 20 starts – including seven wins from her last eights starts – Caitlyn Keeping is in “outstanding” form.
But Roberts remains realistic, with the home-bred, home-reared bitch needing to finish first or second in next week’s regional final to progress to the semi-final at Wentworth Park. And after drawing box five, she won’t be able to to put a foot wrong.
“You’ve probably got to win four weeks in a row to get into that Million Dollar Race,” she said.
“There’ll be plenty of top class dogs coming from Melbourne but if you can win next week or come a place at least you’ve got a chance.”
The success is made “extra special” by the fact Roberts has had Caitlyn Keeping “since she was a tiny baby”.
