Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Victorian-bred seven-year-old Nullarbor Navajo proved far too speedy for her younger rivals in the $50,000 Group 3 Lombardo Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night when she showed that she will be a leading contender in the $75,000 Empress Stakes on April 19.
Nullarbor Navajo, the $2.60 favourite from the prized No. 1 barrier, was driven with great confidence by Stuart McDonald, filling in for trainer Corey Peterson, who was on a holiday in Sydney.
Nullarbor Navajo had to muster plenty of early speed to defy a spirited challenge from the $2.90 second favourite Cyclone Charlotte, who began brilliantly from out wide at barrier eight and led by almost three-quarters of a length but was unable to cross to the front.
“Nullarbor Navajo was holding Cyclone Charlotte well enough, and once she couldn’t get in behind me, I was pretty confident,” said McDonald.
After opening quarters of 31.1sec. and 29.2sec. Nullarbor Navajo sprinted over the final 400m sections in 27.7sec. and 28.7sec. and defeated Cyclone Charlotte by three lengths, rating 1.58.9 over the 2536m, the distance of the Empress Stakes.
“After the early burn I did slow down a bit,” said McDonald. “Nullarbor Navajo was simply jogging when she ran that 27.7sec. down the back, and I knew that she still had plenty of petrol left in the tank.
“I pulled the plugs (approaching the home turn) and dashed away to make sure I got away from the breeze horse (Cyclone Charlotte).”
Nevermindthechaos ($7.50) trailed the pacemaker and fought on to be a well-beaten third. She lost her winning chance when from the No. 2 barrier she contacted the mobile barrier arm in the score-up, broke and was out of position at the start.
Nullarbor Navajo is owned by Cheyenne King-Davies and her father Ken Davies. She is by American stallion Betterthancheddar and is the fifth and last foal out of the Courage Under Fire mare Teen Dreams, who raced 34 times in Victoria for three wins, two placings and $15,525.
Nullarbor Navajo has inherited much of her ability from her maternal great granddam Larrakeyah Lady, who had 57 starts for eleven wins, 13 placings and $78,131. Larrakeyah Lady produced nine winners of 183 races, including Safe And Sound (84 starts for 33 wins, 30 placings and $995,606), Gold Rocket (122 starts for 36 wins, 37 placings and $393,387), Massarua (216 starts for 42 wins, 59 placings and $282,692) and The Good Times (60 starts for 17 wins, 15 placings and $201,024).