Coolmore’s Epsom Derby winner Camelot is one of the go to sires for Australian investors seeking European tried horses and young staying prospects and he delivered the goods for Lloyd and Nick Williams and their partners again at Flemington on Saturday when lightly raced 4YO Point Nepean (IRE) won the Listed VRC Andrew Ramsden Stakes (2800m).
The winner of the Andrew Ramsden secures an automatic start in the Melbourne Cup, so trainer Robert Hickmott can now sit back and relax to plot an ideal path to the first Tuesday in November.
Point Nepean won on debut at Navan in Ireland last year for Joseph O’Brien and then had one more start before coming out to Australia.
He won at Bendigo and Caulfield before coming to Flemington and under a cool ride from Alana Kelly scored a three-quarter length win at just his seventh start.
“It's amazing, it's a great credit to all of our team up at Macedon. This horse has really come forward over the last two or three months. You don't see them win like that very often, particularly an inexperienced horse against seasoned stayers,” said Nick Williams.
"He's got all the right traits. The horse he reminds me of a little bit is Almandin.
“He was very raw and the unfinished article and this horse is a bit the same, albeit younger and in lower grade.
“Where he's come from this preparation, the world's his oyster. He's a genuine two-miler, he was strong on the line today, he was strong on the line at Caulfield and going forward he can make himself known on Cup day."
Point Nepean was bought by Joseph O’Brien for 65,000 guineas at the 2019 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book Two and is the best of two winners from Sea Goddess, a half-sister by Galileo to Group I winner Pure Champion from the family Group I SAJC Adelaide Cup winner Water Boatman.
He is the 44th stakes-winner for Camelot and is interesting as he is the third stakes-winner from just nine runners for Camelot bred from a daughter of Galileo joining Crown Towers and Sir Erec.
