Scandal Keeper stretched his winning range as a sire out to 2100 metres when Credo scored a courageous win at Belmont on Wednesday.

Credo (3g Scandal Keeper – Lil Elsa by Lion Hunter) switched off heels in the straight to join a line of six horses vying for victory in the Thor Handicap.  Given a perfectly-timed ride by Pat Carberry, he won by a nose from He’s Henry (Helenus) and Nunca Te Rindas (Saxon).

Credo is prepared by champion trainer Fred Kersley for his daughter Kate Hawkins.  “He has run plenty of placings and deserved to break through,” Kersley said.  “He didn’t get any favours in running and fought it right out to the finish.

“It was a gutsy win and stretching him out to longer distances has been the key.”

Scandal Keeper (Danzig) has sired 12 winners from just 18 runners and is known more for his short-course stock like Melbourne stakes performer Zamorar.

The Yarradale Stud resident got Wednesday’s winner from Lil Elsa who won 5 Sydney sprints as well as a Listed placing in the Millie Fox Stakes.  The mare has a 100% record at stud – she has also foaled local winners Elsa’s Girl (Mossman) and Lil Kim (Heritage).

Lil Kim won a Pinjarra maiden in April for Paige Kenney.  The Lark Hill trainer paid $20,000 for the De Troy – Lil Elsa filly at the Yarradale Stud yearling sale in May.

Hawkins also weighed in with $20,000 apiece for two Musket colts at the same sale.

Scandal Keeper’s strike-rate in staying races could receive another fillip when Hot Rumor starts in the LR Belmont Oaks (2000m) this Saturday.

Yarradale Stud will stand Scandal Keeper for an $8,000 (plus gst) fee this year.

– Karl Patterson