Keys holds high hopes for Alibaba in 2025 Merson Cooper Stakes

Veteran trainer Ken Keys has handled horses for decades, and while brilliant juveniles have been rare in his stable, he believes Alibaba could be something out of the box.

The colt will make his highly anticipated debut in Saturday’s Listed Merson Cooper Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield.

Keys’ first elite youngster was Saloon Rule, who won the same race in 1988 before starting favourite in the Blue Diamond Stakes, only to blow the start and finish last.

From the moment Alibaba arrived, Keys suspected he had found another top-tier talent.

“Not that we’ve had many, but of the ones we’ve had, he’s right up there,” Keys said.

“Once you’ve had one good two-year-old, you know what is required. We’ve had a lot that aren’t her (Saloon Rule), but he’s up there.

“He’s pretty natural, and I don’t want to build him up too far, but when you see him, you’ll go ‘wow’, he’s one of those horses.”

Alibaba won a Cranbourne jump-out in September, then after a freshen-up returned to win at the Caulfield Heath trials last week.

Keys admitted he debated spelling him again before reconsidering.

“Originally, I was planning on putting him out after the trial, but I went and sat in the tractor for the rest of the afternoon, and I had too much time to think,” Keys said.

“The Merson Cooper has produced nice horses for a long time, I don’t know why, and I’m hoping, the good ones up until now, will be enjoying their spring break.”

The race’s list of past winners is stacked with class: Palm Angel, Little Brose, Anamoe, Hanseatic, Long Leaf, Thurlow, Marveen and Freestyle.

The only concern for Keys ahead of race day is Alibaba’s behaviour when jockey Craig Williams hops aboard.

“He did a few things wrong in the mounting yard the other day, he was a bit naughty, so who knows what his manners are going to be like, but on the track, he was good,” Keys said.

“It’s good when you think what you’ve got, and Craig gives you a similar report.”

While excited, Keys isn’t pushing too far ahead—Alibaba isn’t in the Blue Diamond Stakes, though he is nominated for the Golden Slipper.

“I didn’t enter him in the Diamond, as you don’t know back in June, but he’s in the Golden Slipper, so who knows,” Keys said.

“That’s part of the dream.”

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