Keep’s litter brothers will use Michael Miller Memorial as key stepping stone

By Pat McLeod

Northen New South Wales trainer Stephen Keep will be using this Sunday’s Michael Miller Memorial Final at Capalaba as a key stepping stone to the track’s lucrative Cup feature in October.

Keep has litter brothers All Lies Ahead (box four) and Sal’s Blue Boy (box five) in the popular feature.

He likes their chances in that race and also for the $75,000-to-the-winner October 8 Cup.

“I have a straight track at our property (at Warragai Creek, near Grafton) and these two dogs really fly up that track. They love it and so that is the main reason I decided to try them at Capalaba," Keep said. 

“Their mother, Precious Sal, won at Capalaba in 19.50 seconds. 

“Going on how they went in the heats, I give them a very good chance and I definitely think there is improvement in them.

“Hudson Bay (trained by Doug Gladman), coming out of the seven, is a very good pup. He has had three starts for three wins. He will obviously be a danger.

“But, these dogs, with another run up there, if there is a bit of a tailwind and if they get in front, they are 19.50 second or even better dogs."

Keep says he will certainly keep them going in the direction of the Capalaba Cup.

"We also have the heats of the Million Dollar Chase coming up at Grafton and I will look at that with these dogs," Keep said. 

“We will just see how the dogs go to see where they end up. But, I'm certainly interested in the Capalaba Cup.

“There will be plenty of interest in that Cup. It will be hotly contested by some very good dogs, but I have no doubt these dogs can match it with anyone at Capalaba.

“I think they are really well suited to that track. They are fit, strong dogs and they love the straight. Yes, we will be taking on dogs who are well-seasoned on that track, but after a couple of more runs these two will be just as suited there.”

Keep said that anything All Lies Ahead achieved ‘is a bonus’.

The dog was gravely ill with a twisted bowel just a few months ago.

“We were possibly about an hour away from losing him,” Keep recalls.

“I took him to our vet in Grafton, Ray Barnett, who did a magnificent job. Operated on him and saved him. He has only been back for three starts – two wins and a second.

"Both these dogs are very strong, but All Lies Ahead is probably the stronger. He was a late maturing dog. Initially he would try to run over the top of dogs instead of looking for a run."

Sal’s Blue Boy won the Final of the Pop Northfield Maiden which is a very prestigious race at Casino.

“He's a dog that is a little bit hit and miss, but he has a real motor," the trainer said. 

“He is one of those dogs that will always put up a strong performance. He is hard to beat.

“Wherever you take these two dogs they are always competitive. They are very strong chasers.”

Keep said he has had a long association with the Capalaba track and loves the atmosphere there.

“It is just a lovely day being at Capalaba,” he said.

“I take my 77-year-old father with me whenever I race there. He just loves it.

“He’s not a dog person, but just loves being there.”

The Michael Miller Memorial event holds a special place in the list of features at the boutique straight track.

“Every year we conduct the Michael Miller Memorial, one of the most sought-after races on the Capalaba program," Capalaba track manager Erin Cameron explains. 

“It is so popular because of how people remember Michael. He was an exceptional young man who was going places when he was tragically killed in a car accident.

“The race was originally run at Toowoomba, but with its closure, Capalaba (when managed by Bernie Culey) approached the family and the rest is history.

“Many of the trainers who knew Michael will always nominate, not with the expectation of winning the race, but just to be part of the event as a sign of respect for a truly unique young man.”