Keystroke produces 66-1 upset as Brando is foiled in Abernant hat-trick bid

Keystroke produced a surprise in the Abernant Stakes for Stuart Williams, holding off the hat-trick-seeking Brando in third.

Dreamfield, under James Doyle, set a strong early pace alongside Equilateral but Brando, who was held up towards the back, started to make ground towards the Dip. However, Keystroke was finding plenty in the final 100 yards and the 66-1 shot edged out the Richard Hannon-trained Yafta in a thrilling finish.

Jockey Adam Kirby said afterwards: "He's only had a couple of tries over six [furlongs] but they jumped out quick, they went too quick for me anyway, so I just had to hold on to him for as long as I can. He had a good turn of foot at the finish and he hit the line strong."

Williams added of the GG Thoroughbreds XI-owned seven-year-old: "He won really well at Kempton when we first ran him on the all-weather in the winter, then things didn't go right at Wolverhampton and the surface was a bit deep that day.

"I had a word with the owners, said I think he will be as good on the turf and they said to treat him like a decent horse and go for this race.

"He got a little hiccup ten days ago, he just got a small quarter-crack [in the hoof] and the farrier has done a fantastic job to get him here.

"It's a first Group winner for me on my home track, so it's very pleasing. I think the owners would like to go to Royal Ascot, so we might end up going there."

Yafta, a Group 3 winner at Newbury last July, was denied by a head, while Brando finished a neck behind in third. The pace-setting Dreamfield finished last of the eight runners.

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