Siyouni Gelding Nugget (GB) Dominates Lord Stakes

Mark Smith - Monday December 26

Ciaron Maher said he will start drumming up support for Nugget (GB) in the $5,000,000 All-Star Mile after Australian Bloodstock’s Siyouni (FR) gelding opened his stakes account in the Listed Ladbrokes Lord Stakes (1700m) at Sandown-Hillside on Boxing Day.

Stakes breakthrough for Nugget (GB) (image Racing Victoria)

Australian Bloodstock has an All-Star Mile trophy in the cabinet courtesy of Mugatoo in 2021. But he was trained by Kris Lees, so Maher and his partner David Eustice will be keen to add one of the few features to elude them in Melbourne.

With just five starters in the Lord Stakes, John Allen had Nugget (GB) in a striking position as the veteran, So Si Bon took up the running.

It was clear from a long way out that Nugget and second favourite Life Lessons would fight the race out. Life Lessons (Tavistock) had first run, but she had no answer to Nugget (GB), which went on to win by one and a quarter lengths. Life Lessons’ stablemate See Maire (Sebring) was a further three and three-quarter lengths back in third, with both mares picking up their first black type.

Nugget (GB) was a model of consistency for Richard Hannon in England. Never further back than fourth, the son of Siyouni (FR) landed in Australia with four wins and five places from 11 starts.

Australian Bloodstock has been fantastic, and a lot of these owners are in Gold Trip (FR) as well,” Maher said.

They have found a really nice horse here. I thought we were going to raise the bar and get him into the Ingham (Stakes). I thought being called Nugget would have got him in.

“It wasn’t to be, but he has stepped up to stakes level now.

Advertisement

The taste of victory (image George Sal/Racing Photos)

“Off the back of this, we will target a race like the All-Star Mile. I think he has that quality after doing that with a big weight today.

“He ticked the box today and is racking up a good record, so we will map a plan to the All-Star Mile, so we will start banging the drum and get a few votes.”

Nugget (GB) ran his stablemate Detonator Jack to a length over 1400m on Melbourne Cup Day before winning at Kembla Grange and Randwick.

A £90,000 purchase for John and Jake Warren from the Highclere Stud draft at the 2018 Goffs (UK) Premier Yearling Sale, Nugget (GB) is the third stakes winner for the stakes-winning Galileo mare Gemstone.

The others were Fastnet Rock’s Group II winning hurdler Bedrock and the Dubawi gelding UAE Jewel a Listed winner at Newmarket.

This is the family of Power’s Group 1 Irish St Leger hero Sonnyboyliston.

Nugget (GB) is the 68th stakes-winner for Siyouni (FR), who is riding high through the deeds of Group 1 WATC Northerly Stakes winner Amelia's Jewel.

Advertisment

Race Result - Ladbrokes Lord Stakes LR 1700m

Sandown-Hillside Track: Good(3) Time: 1:42.29
1
Nugget
- 6g Siyouni (FR) x Gemstone (IRE) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: John Allen 60
2
1.3
Life Lessons
- 4m Tavistock (NZ) x Brockman's Lass (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: P G Moody Rdr: Jamie Kah 54
3
5.1
See Marie
- 5m Sebring (AUS) x Annamarie (AUS) (Elusive Quality (USA))
Tnr: P G Moody Rdr: D Moor 54
Sebring
4
5.2
So Si Bon
- 9g So You Think (NZ) x Black Minx (NZ) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: Ben & J D Hayes Rdr: D W Stackhouse 57.5
5
5.3
Black Sail
- 8g Savabeel (AUS) x Ennerdale (GB) (Singspiel (IRE))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: H Coffey 54.5
More Reading...
Transatlantic Takes $1million Five Diamonds Prelude
Transatlantic’s lucrative spring carnival continued at Randwick with an arrogant victory in the $1m Five Diamonds Prelude.
Sires With Winners - Sunday October 26
Here is the full list of 74 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
From FNQ To Sha Tin - Aussie Bred Sprinter Wins G2 Premier Bowl
Some horses arrive in Hong Kong with a very different back story - Fresh from winning the $20million The Everest with Ka Ying Rising, David Hayes was back in the winner’s list at Sha Tin on Sunday when Tomodachi Kokoroe won the Group II Premier Bowl (1200m).
Sale Cup Winner Adds to Fastnet Rock Super Weekend
It’s been quite the weekend for the late great champion sire Fastnet Rock with a Cox Plate quinella on Saturday and then on Sunday he produced a new stakes-winner when seven year-old gelding El Rocko captured the $200,000 Listed Sale Cup (1600m).
Hi Yo Sass Bomb Wins G3 on Sunday
Kim Reid bypassed a Group One in favour of Sunday’s Gr.3 Gee and Hickton Funeral Directors Thompson Handicap (1600m) at Trentham with Hi Yo Sass Bomb, a decision that paid dividends when the mare led from the outset to claim her third stakes success.
Cream Rises at Trentham
A half-sister by Hello Youmzain (Fr) to dual Group I winner Mustang Valley, exciting filly Cream Tart is set to line up in one of the major three-year-old races over New Zealand Cup Week following her impressive win in Sunday’s Upper Hutt Car Sales LTD Three-Year-Old (1400m) at Trentham.
Wootton Bassett and Camelot 2YO Colts Win Final French Group Ones
The last French Group I races of their flat season were run on Sunday and Aidan O’Brien produced the winners of both the Group I Criterium International (1600m) and Group I Criterium de Saint Cloud (1800m).
Doubtland 2YO All On Red Smashes Them Again at Ascot
Widden Stud's Doubtland has a potential 2YO topliner in Perth in the shape of exciting WA colt All On Red, who remains undefeated from two starts after another comprehensive Ascot Saturday win.
Undefeated 3YO King of Light Wins Listed Belgravia
Dan Morton's exciting three year old King Of Light (Earthlight) remains unbeaten in three starts, as the gelding graduated to stakes company with a scintillating first up victory in the Listed Belgravia Stakes on Cox Plate Day at Ascot.
Yes Yes Yes 3YO Shooting for G2 on Monday
Last year’s Gr.2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) set Savaglee up for Group One glory in Christchurch, and Matamata trainer Pam Gerard is hoping to follow a similar blueprint in 2025 with her Yes Yes Yes 3YO Affirmative Action..