Race Record:: 14 Starts 7-2-0 NZ$270,000

A powerful and precocious colt by the boom sire Stravinsky, Keeninsky provided the stallion his first Australasian Group One winner and ended his own juvenile season as Champion Two Year Old

Keeninsky won four from five starts at two years including the Gr. 1 Manuwatu Sires Produce Stakes by 1¼ lengths beating Manten and Egyptian Ra, the Gr.3 Taranaki RC Ford 2YO Classic (in race-record time) beating Alinsky and Kapsdan, and the Listed Matamata RC Fairview Ford Slipper by 2¼L beating Shastri and Lotsatow.

His only defeat at two coming on an unsuitably heavy track in the Gr.1 ARC Ford Elleslie Sires Produce Stakes, where after travelling wide throughout he fought gamely to finish in fifth place.

At three Keeninsky stepped out winning his first two races in 3YO handicaps

The first win for Keeninsky at three was a romp over 1200m at Hawkes Bay, bolting-in by 4½ lengths and beating Bling Bling and Cheval de Troy.

Next up, over 1300 m at Hawkes Bay, Keeninsky carried 57kg too scorch away from Clifton Prince (55.5kg) winning by 2¼ lengths with Ambitious Owner (52.5kg) a further 1½ lengths in third place.

Next it was on to group stakes company competing in the Gr.3 Hawke’s Bay Guineas over 1400m. Keeninsky, after stumbling at the start, fought doggedly to finish an unlucky second beaten a short head by John Seargent's Stravinsky's colt Shastri.

Keeninsky stretches his brilliance to 1600m

As an October three year old Keeninsky ventured to Trentham for the Gr.1 Captain Cook Stakes, weight for age over 1600m. While the Gr.2 Wellington Guineas against his own age group appealed as the softer option his co-trainer Stephen Autridge was adament Keeninsky was capable of beating the older horses.

A win looked likely in the Captain Cook with Keeninsky making all the running and fighting bravely down the straight, only to be run down late by Rodin with the winning margin half a head.

Keeninsky takes the Group One Telegraph Sprint in a blistering time of 1.07.55

Keeninsky’s group one win at three was in the Telegraph Handicap - again taking on the older horses in what was considered the best sprint field assembled in New Zealand for over 20 years.

In this, Keeninsky’s first race for three months he again showed his brilliant speed making much of the running and clinging resolutely to the lead, holding out a determined late burst from Sedecrem one of New Zealand’s most experienced sprinters. Keeninsky’s winning time a slick 01.07.55.

Finishing behind Keeninsky and Sedecrem in that years Telegraph were Shastri, Dezigna, Rapid Kay, Gee I Jane, Devoted and Recurring (winner of the Railway Handicap and group one placed in Australia).

Keeninsky’s winning Telegraph performance earned him widespread applaud, also earning his connections an invitation to run the colt at Royal Ascot.

What was achieved at two and three by Keeninsky was remarkable, yet more exciting was the impression formed by jockey Allan Peard and co-trainer Stephen Autridge that at four years Keeninsky had matured to twice the horse he’d been when winning the Telegraph at three.

Sadly, with the recurrence of a fetlock injury incurred at three it was decided Keeninsky was too valuable to risk further injury on the racetrack. Following the 2006 Telegraph Handicap he was retired to stud.

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