Cambridge Stud sire Keeper continued to make inroads in the New Zealand sires’ premiership when Midnight Oil scored a two length victory in the G3 Lowland Stakes (2100m) at Hastings on Saturday.

The Lowland Stakes (2100m) was the penultimate leg of the NZ Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series and the win put Midnight Oil into contention for the G1 New Zealand Oaks on March 19.  She scored by two lengths from Kiwi Lady (Ruby’s Jester) and long time leader I Gotta Feeling (His Royal Highness).

King’s Rose (Redoute’s Choice) holds an unassailable lead in the NZ Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series but she didn’t travel in the wet conditions and was well beaten into fourth spot.

Midnight Oil (3f Keeper – Gilded Light by Gilded Time) is trained by Paul Duncan at Cambridge and is the first foal of a mare that hails from the family of G1 AJC and SAJC Oaks winner Our Tristalight (Sir Tristram).

She is raced by the Nineteenth Syndicate after failing to make a $20,000 reserve at the 2009 NZB Select yearling sale at Karaka.

Her sire Keeper (Danehill) is fourth on the 2010-11 NZ sires’ premiership behind Thorn Park, Pentire and Pins.  His chief earner Keep The Peace has banked over $305,000 this season with G1 victories in the Mudgway Stakes and Otaki Classic.

Midnight Oil can add to Keeper’s elite level roll call in the NZ Oaks at Trentham in a fortnight.  It’s the tenth and final leg of the NZ Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series.

Besides Keep The Peace, he is also the sire of Miss Keepsake (Queensland Oaks), Insouciant (NZ 1000 Guineas), Keepa Cruisin (Levin Classic) and Linky Dink (QTC T J Smith Classic).

Keeper stands at Cambridge for a $15,000 fee.  Overall, he has sired 177 individual winners of 449 races at a 65% strike-rate.