Katie Mckeen the queen

Katie Mckeen’s front-running success at New Plymouth on Saturday has convinced trainer Gary Mcbeth to back up his pride and joy in next weekend’s Taumarunui Gold Cup.

The rising 7-year-old simply broke her opponent’s hearts as she adopted her preferred pacemaking duties in the Seaton Park 2000.

Rider Rosie Myers kept up a solid clip in front and when she slipped three lengths clear with 600 metres to run, the writing was on the wall that a victory loomed.

The mare kept running as she ground her rivals into the Taranaki mud with only Perfect Start offering any resistance. Although, she was seven lengths adrift at the finish line with a further 14 lengths to the third-placed Our Gazza.

‘‘On a track like that, she just loves it when she is rolling along,’’ said an emotional Mcbeth after the race.

‘‘It was a big weight to carry [58kgs], so it was a brave performance. I’m just rapt.

‘‘Hopefully, we can take on the Taumarunui Cup at Rotorua next.’’

Myers was equally as taken with the performance which saw the Keeninsky mare complete a winning treble after scoring in similar fashion at her last start in the Kiwifruit Cup at Tauranga.

‘‘Nothing had been making any ground up all day, so I thought I’d really get going at the 600 metre mark,’’ she said.

‘‘She just swims on that sort of track.

‘‘There’s not many that can keep up with her when she’s going along like that.

‘‘I don’t see why she couldn’t be competitive if she steps up to the Rotorua race next week.’’

Meanwhile, Tim Johnson enjoyed the biggest day of his racing life at New Plymouth where he continued his winning association with the Group I contender Longchamp.

The Awapuni apprentice had ridden the 4-year-old to previous victories at Otaki and Wanganui before he was entrusted with the ride in Saturday’s Listed Opunake Cup.

It was Johnson’s first start in a black type race and he kept a cool head to complete a hat-trick of wins aboard the free-going Tavistock gelding.