Winless in 15 starts since July last year, the 5yo Al Maher gelding Al Passem earned a maiden stakes win in Sunday’s $150,000 Listed Kilmore Cup (1600m) at Seymour.
Ridden by Jye McNeil, the Ken Key’s trained gelding tracked the leader Manolo Blahniq before tacking over coming in to the straight before holding the challenge of the favourite A Shin Rook (JPN) by a head with Heptagon (Jimmy Choux) a neck back in third.
“He got the ride we have been dreaming off,” Keys said.
Al Passem - image Grant Courtney
“He was earmarked as a mad leader, which he is not, he is an on-pacer, sometimes they get confused about that. He came out, got cover, travelled on pace at his tempo and raced fantastic.
“It’s a real thrill for the owners who have been fantastic. If you look at the horse, he looks like a star he deserved to win something – he looks like Elvis.
“He’s just a fantastic horse to train and he deserved one of these better races.
Purchased by his trainer for $55,000 out of the Swettenham Stud draft at the 2016 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, Al Passem advances his record to 5 wins, 1 second and 5 thirds from 27 starts with earnings of $399,650.
Bred by Churchill Lodge, Al Passem is the second foal of the talented Rubiton mare Ruby Bre, a 5-time Sydney winning half-sister to the Adelaide Magic Millions winner Marie Madeleine (Redoute's Choice) who placed in the Group III MRC Blue Diamond Prelude, GCTC Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL), Listed MRC Debutante Stakes and Listed MVRC St Albans Stakes.
Ruby Bre’s granddam Scarlet Crown (Rory’s Jester) won the Group III VATC Merson Cooper Stakes and Listed VRC Talindert Hcp and is a half-sister to Scarlet Bisque (Biscay) the winner of the Group 1 VATC Oakleigh Plate, Group II MVRC AJ Moir Stakes and Group II VATC Chirnside Stakes.
Al Maher - image Mark Smith
A $160,000 yearling Ruby Bre had just one foal in her first five seasons at stud and she was sold for just $3,4000 at the 2014 Inglis Autumn Thoroughbred Sale.
After foaling Al Passem she had the winning Turffontein gelding Pantera Nera and she has an unnamed 3yo filly by Fiorente but has not been covered in the past two seasons.
Al Passem becomes the 35th stakes-winner for Stockwell Thoroughbreds new recruit Al Maher. The Group 1 winning son of Danehill is standing for a fee of $8,800 this year.
