Big targets loom for Nazare after Cambridge win

By Michael Guerin

A Sires’ Stakes heat could decide the back end of what is turning into a very promising season for Nazare.

The three-year-old made it three wins from six starts when he beat another smart youngster in War Chief in a hotly-contested Cambridge Raceway Pace on Friday night.

Nazare was the beneficiary of War Chief copping plenty of mid-race pressure while the eventual winner and driver Andre Poutama watched and waited for the passing lane.

When their chance came they took it and the race was beyond doubt at the 100m with Nazare breaking 2:40 for the mobile 2200m, a quick time on a cold winter’s night.

While he is clearly a horse with a big motor trainer Arna Donnelly isn’t getting carried away yet, realising the run and tempo of the race combined to aid Nazare.

“But he still won well and we have always thought a fair bit of him,” she said.

“He raced Jumal last campaign and we were thinking about the Northern Derby but he needed time so we eased up on him.

“He has strengthened up so a race like the New Zealand Derby has to be in the back of our minds but we want to see how he handles himself in the next month or so first.”

That could include a Metro heat and final at Alexandra Park while Donnelly says a Sires’ Stakes heat later in the spring could be a crucial turning point in his season.

Win or race well in a Sires’ Stakes heat and the final at Addington becomes an option and then the NZ Derby not long after.

“So all those things are options but for now we will take it a race at a time.

“He is such a big boy time will help him but he is a natural runner.”

Nazare may be the most promising winner out of Friday night’s Cambridge meeting but there were plenty of others who won well enough to suggest they have spring options ahead.

Hill Billie Bundy won’t have to wait that long as she looks all over the trotter to beat in her $30,000 Silk Road Trotting Final back at Cambridge next Friday after overcoming a second line to win her heat on Friday.

Paramount Spur was another trotter to impress and is clearly on the improve as he gave driver Josh Dickie a trotting double after reining Paradise Ali to win earlier.

Tatanka continued his good winter form coming from a 30m handicap to win his trot for trainer Scott Dickson while Sriracha is a pacer on the improve judging by his win later in the night when he absorbed pressure and still held off a stalking Sammy Lincoln.

His win gave Team Telfer a double after Captain Moonlight won the first in the harness version of co-owner Sir Peter Vela’s famous blue and white colours.