When it comes to young stayers on the rise, few have a more suitable pedigree than Rotating Soul.
The Ken and Kasey Keys-trained filly, a daughter of Soul Patch and Carousel Queen, has never raced below 1800m in all but one of her 10 career starts so far.
This Saturday, she’ll line up in the MRC Chairman’s Club Handicap (2400m), aiming to secure a metro-level win before she officially exits her three-year-old season.
Soul Patch, who was trained by Ken Keys, finished third in the Victoria Derby, while her dam Carousel Queen is closely related to Like A Carousel, another Keys galloper who claimed victory in the Pakenham Cup (2500m), and also competed in the Adelaide Cup and Sydney Cup, in addition to jumping success.
Trainer Kasey Keys said Rotating Soul has always signalled she was built for distance, making her debut in last year’s VRC Oaks Preview (1800m) at Flemington.
She then progressed to 2025m at her second outing and 2200m at her third before spelling.
Since returning in March, Rotating Soul has gradually stretched out again in distance, with the Group 3 SA Fillies Classic (2500m) at Morphettville her main autumn target.
She was never in the hunt that day after being slowly away.
“She was slowly away and couldn’t get up near the lead, which is her running style,” Keys said.
“She’s a big striding horse and needs all the room she can get.”
After returning from South Australia, Rotating Soul finished runner-up twice—once at Sale and then on the synthetic track at Pakenham—before finally breaking through at Pakenham last start.
“I think it was well deserved. She had been thereabouts at every start,” Keys said.
“Her work at home had shown that and we had great faith in the family.
“We wanted to try and get a maiden win with her, and those Pakenham races were the best ones we had available and the distance on Saturday is what she’s looking for.
“Hopefully she gets away well and can put herself up there as it’s her last chance to win a Saturday city race as a three-year-old.
“She’s related to Like A Carousel and it took him something like 15 starts to break his maiden, so she’s not doing too badly.”
Planning a punt on Saturday’s staying test? Be sure to compare offers at the best Australian betting sites before placing your bets.
