Saracen Knight Dominant in Herbert Power

Mark Smith - Saturday October 8

Danny O’Brien’s Saracen Knight (IRE) is in the form of his life, which may have connections regretting his absence from the nominations for the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup.

Saracen Knight is flying (image Grant Courtney)

Saracen Knight is flying (image Grant Courtney)

Fresh off his triumph in the Listed R.M. Ansett Classic at Mornington, the son of Camelot dominated Saturday’s Group II Neds Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) at Caulfield.

Ridden by Jamie Kah, Saracen Knight (IRE) defeated Makram (IRE) (Make Believe) by one and a quarter lengths, with Desert Icon (FR) (Sea The Stars) a half head back in third.

“When the Melbourne and Caulfield Cups nominations closed, we thought it was a bridge too far from where he was at, but we’ve got a million-dollar Moonee Valley Cup in two weeks’ time so I suspect that we’ll head there,” O'Brien said.

“We’ll pick off the races that we can.

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“The longer he’s been in work the better he’s got. We shifted him down to Barwon Heads after he ran poorly about three months ago at Flemington and haven’t done much with him other than bowling him up and down the beach and he’s just been racing in tremendous form.

“He carried a couple of big weights and his last two he’s dropped right down in the weights and he’s fit. He’s a very happy horse.”

Saracen Knight in rare form (image Grant Courtney)

Saracen Knight in rare form (image Grant Courtney)

A €230,000 purchase for MV Magnier from the Whitehall Stud consignment at the 2016 Goffs Orby Sale, Saracen Knight (IRE) advances his record to six wins, one second, and four thirds from 25 starts, with earnings of $572,455.

He is the best of two winners from three to race out of the Raven’s Pass mare Za'Hara, a half-sister to Grad 1 Arlington Millions winner Debussy (Diesis) and Group III winner Laugh Aloud (Dubawi).

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Race Result - Neds Herbert Power Stakes Gr2 2400m

Caulfield Track: Soft(5) Time: 2:32.25
1
Saracen Knight
- 8g Camelot (GB) x Za'hara (IRE) (Raven's Pass (USA))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: Jamie Kah 53
2
1.3
Makram
- 6g Make Believe (GB) x Spontaneous (IRE) (Sinndar (IRE))
Tnr: Ben & J D Hayes Rdr: Craig Williams 56
3
1.4
Desert Icon
- 7g Sea The Stars (IRE) x Plume Rose (GB) (Marchand De Sable (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J B Mc Donald 58
4
1.5
Persan
- 6g Pierro (AUS) x Ofcourseican (AUS) (Mossman (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Damian Lane 59
5
2.3
Sheraz
- 6g Sea The Stars (IRE) x Shemiyla (FR) (Dalakhani (IRE))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: D Oliver 59
6
2.5
Schabau
- 8g Pastorius (GER) x Staying Alive (GER) (Royal Dragon (USA))
Tnr: Robert Hickmott Rdr: Ethan Brown 55.5
7
3.2
Attorney
- 8g Makfi (GB) x Tia Kia (IRE) (Montjeu (IRE))
Tnr: Matthew Smith Rdr: C Newitt 53.5
8
3.5
Emissary
- 6g Kingman (GB) x Soviet Moon (IRE) (Sadler's Wells (USA))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: Jye McNeil 56
9
3.6
Grand Promenade
- 7g Champs Elysees (GB) x Zacchera (GB) (Zamindar (USA))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: M Zahra 59
10
3.7
Harmysian
- 6g Lope De Vega (IRE) x Adja (IRE) (Rock Of Gibraltar (IRE))
Tnr: Clayton Douglas Rdr: Damien Thornton 53
11
4.1
Regal Lion
- 4g Jakkalberry (IRE) x Red Delight (NZ) (Congrats (USA))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: B Mc Dougall 54.5
12
4.9
The Good Fight
- 8g High Chaparral (IRE) x Pravda (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: Patrick Moloney 53
13
5.9
Tigertiger
- 7g Zed (NZ) x Hoorang (NZ) (Zerpour (IRE))
Tnr: R J Blacker Rdr: D Moor 53
14
6.1
Point Nepean
- 5h Camelot (GB) x Sea Goddess (IRE) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: Robert Hickmott Rdr: M J Dee 55
15
7.3
Good Idea
- 8g So You Think (NZ) x Faint Perfume (AUS) (Shamardal (USA))
Tnr: P Stokes Rdr: Michael Poy 53
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