Black Type Double for Pins

Danny O'Brien's astonishing record with the progeny of New Zealand based stallion Pins continued over the Queens Birthday weekend claiming a two state black type double.

The first of the two state double was the lightly raced filly Glam Slam who claimed her first black type success in the listed AR Creswick Stakes (1200 metres) at Flemington. Glam Slam is out of the Centaine mare Gio. Gio has been a sensational broodmare for owner-breeder Gary Chittick's Waikato Stud, and of her seven foals to make the racetrack, six have won. Three have been successful in stakes grade with Glam Slam yesterday joining half-brother Arenti, who contested a Winter Championship heat yesterday and sister Crepe De Chine also by Pins as black type performers.

"We've obviously had a strong association with Gary and Waikato for a while now," said O'Brien's foreman Gino Mata.

Glam Slam made her Australian debut last weekend at Flemington and was beaten despite being backed into favoritism.

"She hadn't raced in about five weeks and their first look at the straight can throw them a bit as well," Mata said.

"Today she got weight off the boys and with that experience down the straight on the back-up and rock-hard fit, everything pointed to a good run."

O'Brien and Chittick will plot the next chapter in Glam Slam's promising career. Mata suggested that the spelling paddock would be the most likely option, but also hinted that a tilt at the listed Sir John Monash Stakes (1000 metres) at Caulfield next month could be a possibility.

The second leg of the winning double was the highly rated Keano, who showed race goers his true ability and he signaled himself as a likely spring carnival contender when he romped to victory in the listed $75,000 QTC Lightning Handicap (1000m) at Eagle Farm today.

A highly regarded member of the Danny O'Brien stable, Keano sat just off the speed before accelerating brilliantly when asked in the straight to streak clear.

By the time he reached the finishing post themargin over Black Ink was two and a quarter lengths. Last start Brisbane winner News Alert was third.

While delighted with today's victory, Flemington's Danny O'Brien was left to ponder what might have been.

"If everything went according to plan I thought he could have won the Stradbroke," O'Brien reported.

'But things didn't go as we planned and he wasn't able to win his way into the race."

"This (win) will help us in placing him later in the year when we look at the spring carnival with him."

But before he heads back to Melbourne with the country's premier carnival on his agenda, Keano will have another run in Brisbane.

"He'll run in the Group 3 race over 1200 metres in a fortnight," he said referring to the $175,000 WJ Healy Stakes.

By leading New Zealand sire Pins, the sire of Cox Plate champion El Segundo, Keano is a half brother to O'Brien's former promising filly Be Delicious.

Their dam O'Really, a winner over 1200 metres by Centaine, is a three quarter sister to Critic and half sister to O'Reilly. Both are Group 1 winners.

Keano's second dam is none other than Courtza - the Golden Slipper and Blue Diamond Stakes winner by Pompeii Court.

Read the full story at www.virtualformguide.com.au

Photos thanks to Getty Images and John Donegan