Trip no concern for Rotating Soul

Bred to thrive over distance, Rotating Soul is shaping into the kind of stayer that suits Australian racing perfectly.

From the Ken and Kasey Keys stable, the daughter of Soul Patch and Carousel Queen has raced almost exclusively beyond 1800m throughout her 10-start career.

She’ll contest the MRC Chairman’s Club Handicap (2400m) this Saturday, aiming to notch a valuable city win while still racing as a three-year-old.

Her sire Soul Patch, also trained by Ken Keys, was placed in the Victoria Derby, and her dam is a half-sister to Like A Carousel—winner of the Pakenham Cup (2500m) and a multiple-time runner in both the Adelaide Cup and Sydney Cup, as well as a successful jumper.

Kasey Keys recalls that even from her early work, Rotating Soul showed a preference for long trips, debuting over 1800m in the VRC Oaks Preview last September.

She was quickly upped in trip to 2025m and 2200m in subsequent starts before heading to the paddock.

Her latest campaign began in March, starting with a fourth at Sandown over 1800m and progressing towards the Group 3 SA Fillies Classic (2500m).

Her effort in the feature was underwhelming, but circumstances didn’t help her chances.

“She was slowly away and couldn’t get up near the lead, which is her running style,” Keys said.

“She’s a big striding horse and needs all the room she can get.”

Upon returning home, the team targeted easier races, running second twice before finally shedding her maiden status at Pakenham.

“I think it was well deserved. She had been thereabouts at every start,” Keys said.

“Her work at home had shown that and we had great faith in the family.

“We wanted to try and get a maiden win with her, and those Pakenham races were the best ones we had available and the distance on Saturday is what she’s looking for.

“Hopefully she gets away well and can put herself up there as it’s her last chance to win a Saturday city race as a three-year-old.

“She’s related to Like A Carousel and it took him something like 15 starts to break his maiden, so she’s not doing too badly.”

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