Ciaron Maher said he will start drumming up support for Nugget (GB) in the $5,000,000 All-Star Mile after Australian Bloodstock’s Siyouni (FR) gelding opened his stakes account in the Listed Ladbrokes Lord Stakes (1700m) at Sandown-Hillside on Boxing Day.
Australian Bloodstock has an All-Star Mile trophy in the cabinet courtesy of Mugatoo in 2021. But he was trained by Kris Lees, so Maher and his partner David Eustice will be keen to add one of the few features to elude them in Melbourne.
With just five starters in the Lord Stakes, John Allen had Nugget (GB) in a striking position as the veteran, So Si Bon took up the running.
It was clear from a long way out that Nugget and second favourite Life Lessons would fight the race out. Life Lessons (Tavistock) had first run, but she had no answer to Nugget (GB), which went on to win by one and a quarter lengths. Life Lessons’ stablemate See Maire (Sebring) was a further three and three-quarter lengths back in third, with both mares picking up their first black type.
Nugget (GB) was a model of consistency for Richard Hannon in England. Never further back than fourth, the son of Siyouni (FR) landed in Australia with four wins and five places from 11 starts.
Australian Bloodstock has been fantastic, and a lot of these owners are in Gold Trip (FR) as well,” Maher said.
They have found a really nice horse here. I thought we were going to raise the bar and get him into the Ingham (Stakes). I thought being called Nugget would have got him in.
“It wasn’t to be, but he has stepped up to stakes level now.
“Off the back of this, we will target a race like the All-Star Mile. I think he has that quality after doing that with a big weight today.
“He ticked the box today and is racking up a good record, so we will map a plan to the All-Star Mile, so we will start banging the drum and get a few votes.”
Nugget (GB) ran his stablemate Detonator Jack to a length over 1400m on Melbourne Cup Day before winning at Kembla Grange and Randwick.
A £90,000 purchase for John and Jake Warren from the Highclere Stud draft at the 2018 Goffs (UK) Premier Yearling Sale, Nugget (GB) is the third stakes winner for the stakes-winning Galileo mare Gemstone.
The others were Fastnet Rock’s Group II winning hurdler Bedrock and the Dubawi gelding UAE Jewel a Listed winner at Newmarket.
This is the family of Power’s Group 1 Irish St Leger hero Sonnyboyliston.
Nugget (GB) is the 68th stakes-winner for Siyouni (FR), who is riding high through the deeds of Group 1 WATC Northerly Stakes winner Amelia's Jewel.
