Namsarai’s bright start to the new racing season continued at Randwick today when he won the Champagne Bar Handicap (1550m) in good style.
Cleverly ridden by talented apprentice Sam Clipperton, Namsarai came with a strong run to notch up consecutive Sydney wins.
Carrying the well known Prime Thoroughbreds colours, Namsarai got home to beat Belissimo by a half length, while Kinetics was another long neck back in a busy finish.
The win was the second of the new season for Namsarai following a Canterbury win under Jay Ford on August 3.
“Young Sam rode the horse quite well,” winning trainer Kris Lees said. “He cut the corner and kept hold of the horse and I think that made the difference.”
“The run presented itself nicely. I’m not sure he will want much further than the 1550 (metres), but he really likes this type of soft ground.”
“He’s a nice winter horse,” Lees added.
The win continued a good few months for fledgling apprentice Sam Clipperton.
“We had a nice run in behind them,” Clipperton said. “I didn’t touch him when we started – I just wanted to see where he was and where he was comfortable.”
“I took a sit just behind them and he travelled well – got a run in the straight and he was too good,” Clipperton added.
Namsarai has now earned over $90,000 – a good return on his $40,000 purchase price at the 2007 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. He was a member of the Reavill Farm draft.
Namsarai is a well bred gelding – by Mr. Prospector’s Kentucky Derby winning son Fusaichi Pegasus – he is a half brother to two stakes winners.
The best of the two so far is Anabandana – a multiple Group One winner in New Zealand – set to be crowned that country’s Champion Juvenile at the upcoming kiwi Horse of the Year awards.
Another half sister is Gybe – winner of the Gimcrack Stakes at her first start and now a four time winner and earner of over $250,000.
They are all produced by the unraced Nureyev mare Great Notice – a full sister to the international stakes winner European Rose and stakes placegetter Nureyev’s Girl – the latter being the dam of star New Zealand filly King’s Rose.
The last foal from Great Notice – a weanling filly by Stratum topped this year’s Magic Millions National Weanling Sale when purchased by New Zealand’s Whakanui Stud for $220,000.
Winner: Namsarai
Breeding: Fusaichi Pegasus-Great Notice (Nureyev)
Race: ATC Champagne Bar Handicap (1550m)
Sold for: $40,000
Sale: 2007 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale
Vendor: Reavill Farm
Buyer: Anthony Cummings
Earnings: $90,190
Owner(s): JV O’Neill, IC Turbet, RA Barnes, LJ Robinson, MA Snowden, Maverick Racing Synd, DP Harris, NC Simpson, A Mathews & P Smith
Trainer: Kris Lees (Broadmeadow)
