Prime Winner for Al Maher

Tara Madgwick - Wednesday August 14
Joe O'Neill of Prime Thoroughbreds has a happy knack for finding inexpensive yearlings that turn into winners and one of those is Almerheri, who scored a stylish victory at Warwick Farm on Wednesday for the John Thompson stable.

A four year-old daughter of Al Maher, Almerheri was cherry ripe at her third run back from a spell and was too strong at the finish in scoring a half length win in the Benchmark 64 event over 1600 metres.

Al Maher - image TBVIt was the second win for Almerheri, who has now won over $70,000 and ended her last preparation with a midfield run in the Group III Kembla Grange Classic.

"She's a typical Joe O'Neill horse," said John Thompson.

"He buys racehorses and they all seem to win. She's a nice progressive mare that can go through her grades and might get some Black Type down the track."

Almerheri was a $50,000 Magic Millions Adelaide purchase for Prime Thoroughbreds from the draft of Riverina Downs and is the second winner from Miss Cutie, a metro winning Street Cry (IRE) mare from the family of Group I winner Defier.

Al Maher has relocated from the Hunter Valley to Victoria this spring and will stand at Stockwell Thoroughbreds alongside Artie Schiller (USA) and Rock Sturdy.

At age 18, Al Maher is feeling well heading into spring as you can see in this picture from Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria.

"It's a great photo of Al Maher. I was laughing, as he acts like a two-year-old kid. It's great to see him expressing himself and having fun. He is feeling so well, ready and rearing, literally, to go for the season,"said Stockwell Thoroughbreds stallion handler Bec Drylie.

Al Maher stands at a fee of $8,800.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Invincible Filly Wins $1million G3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes
I Am Invincible was expected to have the winner in the $1million Group III MRC Thoroughbred Club Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday with race favourite My Gladiola coming out of a second placing in the Group I VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes, but it was another daughter of the champion sire that got the cash.
Asterix back on top in The Beauford
Former Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) winner Asterix returned to top form and scored his first Australian victory in the A$300,000 NZB The Beauford (2300m) at Newcastle on Saturday.
Group One Goals for Son of Maher
Riccarton trainers Michael and Matthew Pitman have Group One targets on Son Of Maher’s summer programme.
Star Sprinter Jokers Grin Plays Winning Hand
On a big, boisterous opening day of The Pinnacles carnival at a packed out Ascot racecourse, WA’s reigning Horse Of The Year Jokers Grin was definitely the headline act.
Hard to Say Goodbye
Emirates Park have bred some outstanding horses over the years and one of the best has been Group I Australian Guineas winner Al Maher, who is relocating to Stockwell Thoroughbreds in Victoria this year without his long time handler Ejaz Hussein, who was there when he was a foal and has enjoyed a great partnership with the stallion.
Godolphin’s Green Spaces Dominates In G3 Spring Stakes
Having just his third start since transferring into the Bjorn Baker stable, Street Boss colt Green Spaces continued the outstanding stakes winning run of Godolphin bred and raced runners, winning the $250,000 Group 3 NJC Spring Stakes (1600m) at Newcastle by three lengths.
Jimmysstar all class in Orr Stakes triumph
Brilliant New Zealand-bred gelding Jimmysstar lifted his Group One tally to three with another scintillating performance in Saturday’s A$1 million CF Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield, in which progeny of Little Avondale Stud stallion Per Incanto finished first and third.
Karaka Graduate Romanoff Wins G1 NZ 2000 Guineas
The only thing certain as horses slogged their way to the winning post in Saturday’s Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) was that Matamata trainer Pam Gerard would produce the quinella in the Riccarton classic.
New SW Satono Aladdin - Bozo Wins G3 New Zealand Cup
Respected Wanganui trainer Kevin Myers captured his fourth Gr.3 Martin Collins New Zealand Cup (3200m) at Riccarton on Saturday courtesy of a supreme staying performance by Bozo.
Proved secures first black-type success
A bargain buy from Windsor Park Stud’s Rugby, Racing and Beer yearling sale has now won six of her seven starts including a first black-type success in Saturday’s A$200,000 Gr.3 How Now Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.