The well-travelled Keegan made the lengthy trip to Trentham worthwhile, but not before giving his connections anxious moments.
Trained at Cambridge by Ben and Ryan Foote, the Gerry Harvey-bred gelding didn’t look to be travelling well before he rallied strongly to put away his Rating 75 rivals over 1400 metres on Saturday.
The six-year-old son of Swiss Ace has now won three times from eight appearances with a further four placings to his credit.
“He’s got all the ability in the world, but he’s a bit of a lazy bugger,” Ben Foote said.
“I thought he was going to go backwards at one stage and then he picked up again so we’re happy to get this one.”
Keegan settled fourth last away from the fence and rider Vinnie Colgan was hard at work before the turn.
His charge responded to move through his gears and powered between runners 200 metres from home for a comfortable length victory.
“He didn’t travel like a winner and was flat turning for home before he picked up halfway down the straight,” Colgan said.
Keegan began his career from Jim Collett’s stable and finished third in his only trial as an unraced three-year-old before relocated to Hong Kong.
He suffered a number of issues there and subsequently found his way back home to the Foote’s operation.
Keegan is a son of the Mossman mare Kilderry whose half-brother Passing Shot won 11 races up to 1400 metres, including the G3 Mr Tiz Trophy and the Listed Hawke’s Bay Sprint.
It is also the family of the three-time Group 1 winner Shogun Lodge whose half-brothers Referral and Singing The Blues were also top-flight winners.