After Zaaki (GB) claimed three consecutive runnings of the $500,000 Group II Tab AD Hollindale Stakes, Annabel Neasham stretched her winning sequence to four with Numerian (IRE) emerging from a 20-week break to claim the race in testing conditions on Saturday.
Ridden by Jamie Mott, the 8-year-old son of Holy Roman Emperor (IRE) did not flinch in defying Just Folk (Magnus) by one and a half lengths with Kovalica (Ocean Park) a short-head back in third.
With a third Group II victory, Numerian (IRE) advanced his record to seven wins, ten seconds, and four thirds from 43 starts with earnings of $2,911,173.
“I love this horse so much,” Neasham said.
“He’s an eight-year-old and to do that first-up on a bottomless track like this, I knew he would run well and I said that to Jamie. I said he ran really well on a Heavy 10 in the Chelmsford first-up about 18 months ago. He’s just a beauty and I’m so happy for Teme Valley back in the UK because they were happy to give him one more prep.
“He’s obviously getting a bit older but ran really well in Perth and having a last prep up here and starting it off like that is fantastic.
“I have to say a big thanks to David Noonan and his team down at Balnarring Beach because he’s been in pre-training down there. He got through his trials being trained at the beach and the team down in Melbourne can take most of the credit for this. He had a week in Sydney and had a trial there, so the team did a good job with him and then he’s come up here and he comes alive up here. He seems to love it up here.
“Qudos to Jamie Mott as well. He rode at Cranbourne night meeting last night and he’s come up to ride for me in the first race and then in this today. I’m just glad the trip was worthwhile for him. ”
Bred by Whisperview Trading, Numerian (IRE) is the best of four winners from seven to race out of the unraced High Chaparral (IRE) mare Delicate Charm.
Numerian's 4-time winning sister Too Precious is the dam of outstanding 2-year-old filly Porta Fortuna (Caravaggio)
Trained by Donnacha O'Brien, Porta Fortuna won the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes, was runner-up in the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes and Group 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, and was third in the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes.
