Group One performer Meritable quenched his thirst after a four year winning drought when victorious in the VS Equine Dannevirke (1200m) at Woodville on Sunday.
The seven-year-old son of Snitzel performed with distinction as a three-year-old for former trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, winning one and finishing runner-up in three of his five starts in New Zealand, including second placings in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and Gr.2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial Stakes (1400m).
He subsequently continued his racing career in Australia where he ran fourth in the Gr.3 Gold Coast Guineas (1200m) before transferring to the care of Sydney trainer Annabel Neasham.
He was then offered for sale in Inglis Digital’s 2023 September Online Sale where he attracted the attention of New Zealand owner Colin Wightman, who bought the entire for A$80,000.
Joining the stable of Mark Minervini, Meritable finished runner-up in the Listed Starlight Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill before being retired to stud in New Zealand last year, however, Wightman elected to try his charge on the track once more and earlier this year entrusted him to the care of Hastings trainers Mick Brown and Sue Thompson-Brown.
He pleased his new handlers with his four runs before his breakthrough victory at Woodville, his first in nearly four years.
“It’s been a long time between drinks,” Brown said.
“We were a bit suspect of whether he would go on the ground (Heavy10), but we were happy with his trial, and he went well.”
Elite-level targets are once again on the cards for Meritable following the win, with the seven-year-old nominated for the Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m) and Gr.1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) next month.
“We put him in and we said to Colin that he had to win (on Sunday), which he did,” Brown said. “Whether he gets in or not is another matter, but we will aim him for them. If he doesn’t get in, we will find another race for him.”
Brown is looking forward to returning north with Meritable and said the addition of blinkers have been a great assist.
“We took him up to Ellerslie last season and he was a bit unlucky when he ran (fourth) in that 1400m Open Handicap race,” he said.
“We have put the blinkers back on him, which I don’t think he has worn for a few years. He always wore blinkers as a three-year-old.”
Brown is enjoying having the Group One performer in his barn, with his placid demeanour making him an instant stable favourite.
“He is just a big stable pet, you wouldn’t think he was a seven-year-old entire,” Brown said.
Meanwhile, stakes performer Fancy Like Lass is set to return to the stable in the coming weeks, with a stakes target at Riccarton over New Zealand Cup Week in the crosshairs.
“Fancy Like Lace is being pre-trained down at the beach and she will come to us at the end of the month,” Brown said. “Hopefully she comes back bigger and stronger.
“We wouldn’t mind taking her down south for that 1000m race (Listed Donaldson Brown Pegasus Stakes) at Riccarton in November.”
The Hellbent mare had her first tilt at stakes level at Trentham in March, where she ran third in the Listed Lightning Handicap (1200m), and while pleased with her performance in the race, Brown believes she is better suited to shorter trips.
“We wanted to get a bit of black-type with her and she deserved it,” Brown said. “She has had plenty of problems, but hopefully she is over them now.
“We will keep her to those sprints because I don’t think she gets a true 1200m down that dogleg at Wellington, I think she is better over 1000m and 1100m, or going around the bend over 1200m.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
