Nadal proves to be an ace for Maher in The Meteorite
Ciaron Maher bagged another valuable slot race when Nadal (Xtravanant) smashed his rivals to take out Saturday’s inaugural running of the $1 million The Meteorite (1200m) at Cranbourne.
With Ethan Bown in the saddle, the four-year-old gelding defied the pattern of the day when he came from the tail of the field with an explosive finish, beating Rey Magnero (Magnus) by 2.8 lengths with the highly touted favourite Baraqiel (Snitzel) close up behind in third.
Brown said he was unworried when he found himself well back in the field.
“It looked quick on paper, and I did want to be a bit closer, but they kept up that genuine gallop which pushed us a pair further back,” the winning rider said.
“I just rode in as they started fanning around the corner and I thought we can’t loop them. So, I gave him a click, he was right there for me, a gap presented and off he went.
“The track’s been a bit on speed, so maybe a few connections had the same idea and it worked in our favour.
“He’s very talented and he’s in the right stable. They’ll put him through his grades, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him in a stakes race and the horses he beat there then, it just puts the writing on the wall, doesn’t it? The feeling he gave me was terrific, and I’d like to stay on his back.”
Stable representative Adrian Joyce said: “He came back in this prep a different horse, stronger, moving really well and he’s just kept improving. We’ve always had a lot of faith in him. He’s a really nice horse and a beautiful individual as well.”
The top-priced Xtravagant (Penite) yearling of his year, Nadal was a $250,000 purchase for Ciaron Maher Bloodstock from the Newhaven Park draft at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. He is the best of two winners from four to race for the stakes-winning Moshe (Bel Esprit) mare Moshki.
Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald Racing, in partnership with Blandford Bloodstock, paid $450,000 for a brother to Nadal at the recent NZB Ready To Run Sale and Newhaven Park will consign another brother to the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.