A powerful and precocious colt by the boom stallion Stravinsky,
Keeninsky was his sire’s first Australasian Group One winner
and ended his own juvenile season as Champion Two Year Old
Keeninsky won four of his five starts at two years; including the Gr. 1 Manawatu 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 came on an unsuitably heavy track in the Gr.1 ARC Ford Elleslie Sires Produce Stakes, where travelling wide throughout he fought gamely finishing 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, carrying 57kg at Hawkes Bay, Keeninsky scorched away over the 1300m beating the well performed Clifton Prince (55.5kg) by 2¼ lengths with Ambitious Owner (52.5kg) a further 1½ lengths back in third place.
It was on to group company next, competing in the Gr.3 Hawke’s Bay Guineas over 1400m. Keeninsky after stumbling at the start, fought doggedly to finish second beaten just a short head by another Stravinsky colt Shastri.
Keeninsky stretches his brilliance to 1600m against the older horses
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 had appeal as a softer option, co-trainer Stephen Autridge was confident Keeninsky (still a spring 3YO) was capable of matching the older horses.
A win looked likely, with Keeninsky making all the running and fighting bravely down the straight, only to be run down late by Rodin - his winning margin half a head.
Keeninsky takes the Group One Telegraph Sprint in a blistering time of 1.07.55
Keeninsky scores his all-the-way win in the 2005 Group One Telegraph Handicap
Keeninsky’s group one Telegraph win at three was against the older horses in what was considered the best sprint field assembled in New Zealand for over 20 years. His winning time – 1 min.07.55
In this his first race for three months, Keeninsky once again showed his brilliant speed and made much of the running to lead most of the straight, holding out a determined late burst from Sedecrem one of New Zealand’s most experienced sprinters. Finishing behind 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, while 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.