3 minute read
If there has been one positive (pardon the pun) to come out of the COVID pandemic is that it's kept Laqdar Ramoly in Western Australia for an extended stay. The 22-year-old should have been back home if not for travel complications, but Mauritius' loss in Perth's gain. He could not have ridden Nerodio any better in the Beaufine Stakes to claim his first Listed win. 'Lucky', as he is affectionately known, has built an army of fans since arriving in the west, not just for his riding skills, but for his personable and likeable nature.
2-NERODIO
It was new territory for Nerodio in the Beaufine Stakes (1000m), the five-year-old's first black-type race, but he handled the step up in class with aplomb, powerfully sprinting past classy colt Gemma's Son to win by ¾ of a length. Further winter riches wait for Nerodio with the Bolton Sprint (1200m) and Belmont Newmarket (1200m) likely targets. The Playing God gelding is building a nice profile: he's won his past three races, nine in total from 21 starts and with his impressive turn of foot he holds a potent weapon.
From breaking him in to Listed winner of the Beaufine Stakes, her first major victory as a trainer, it's easy to understand why Bakranich has a sentimental attachment to Nerodio. She underplayed his hopes before the race, citing wide draw and weight as hurdles to overcome, but she didn't have to worry as he rarely lets her down and appears to be getting better from preparation to preparation and race to race.
A day of pride for the staunch West Australian. Soon after his adoring Fremantle Dockers demolished Hawthorn to keep their AFL finals hopes alive his talented four-year-old Red Can Man scored a fighting win in the Group 3 Monash Stakes at Caulfield. There were a few doubters after his first-up run at Flemington, but he bounced back and validated Wolfe's decision to send him to David Brideoake in Melbourne.
5-CHRIS NATION
Following the torrential downpour in Perth on Friday and earlier in the week the Belmont card looked in serious doubt, but we got through and you have to acknowledge Nation and his team for the way the track presented and played out on Saturday.
You can generally bank on O'Donnell in pick up rides. His impact is uncanny and consistent. He circled the field from last on Lonsdale Lady, the second leg of a race to race double after booting home Vital Blast. The popular jockey is quickly back in the riding groove after a month's holiday.
7-EDWARD FITZGERALD
The luck of the Irish! As a first-time owner, Fitzgerald watched his two-year-old It'sarayday score an impressive victory on debut. On that effort, there are more wins to come. Later, to round out a profitable day at the races, he backed Red Can Man after getting the tip from Steve Wolfe.
