Andover The Keys gets started

Prominent Southland harness racing owner Neville Cleaver likes to buy top end yearlings. But he also likes to dabble with what he terms ‘cheapies.’

Cleaver has bought and sold quality pacers like Ragazzo Mach (Mach Three) and The Black Flash (Bettor’s Delight). Within the last two years he sold them both for six figures each, but he’s always on the lookout for horses that are up and running and are on the market for four figures or less.

Today (Nov. 17) at Winton one of his ‘cheapies’ Andover The Keys (Andover Hall) having its ninth start since being purchased recently from Makarewa trainer Earl Swain, won for Cleaver and trainer Lyndon Bond.

“I said to Nev to find a maiden trotter and he’s done a great job,” Bond said.

Cleaver also owns the hot favourite in the race Flying Without Wings (Pegasus Spur), but it was the less favoured Andover The Keys that took the prize money.

Flying Without Wings galloped away and never settled so Cleaver’s attention switched to Andover The Keys, and the five year old in the hands of Sarah O’Reilly duly delivered getting up to beat perennial placegetter Tease My Tartan (Great Success) by a neck. 

“The other one was the hot pot, but the consolation came in. We would have been happy with second, but we got the win.”

The form line of Andover The Keys has been a bit patchy and last week in the Gold Chip Final on the Winton course she broke at the 700 mark.

“Sarah panicked a bit last week and let her go too quickly and the horse went into a gallop down the back. I said to her today to just ease her into it slowly and she’s done a good job. She had a wee bit of a click in her gait, so we’ve been doing some work on that. She’s looking the best she has since we’ve had her, is getting fed well and starting to thrive.”

ANDOVER THE KEYS REPLAY

Andover The Keys is out of the Sundon mare Lockerup. She’s the dam of Sovereignty (28 wins) and La Femme D’Argent (7).

Bond has been in the wars lately and today was hobbling around the racecourse after stepping into a ditch while playing bowls. Matty Williamson was heard to say he thought Bond had a stone bruise!

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart for Harnesslink