Golden Slipper winning sire Farnan has come to the Magic Millions Carnival in red hot form with exciting 2YO Knightsbridge winning at Randwick on Saturday and then at Eagle Farm his 3YO gelding Ninja obliterated the opposition when strolling home along in the Group III BRC Vo Rogue Plate (1300m).
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Knightsbridge will run in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic (read about him here) and Ninja will start favourite in the $3million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (1400m).
Trained by Michael Freedman, Ninja has been a work in progress with two wins and a third at his first three starts coming out of winter in July and August before a spring spell.
A close third to Grafterburners when resuming in the BRC Pierata Plate at the start of December, Ninja presented in the mounting yard the best he has ever looked on Saturday and ran accordingly with Tommy Berry in the saddle as favourite.
Slowly away when he jumped in the air, Ninja was given time to regroup by Berry at the back of the field with a hot pace in front and then launched a sustained burst of acceleration that saw him round the field turning for home and bid his rivals farewell.
Ninja was geared down at the finish to win by nearly five lengths taking his overall record to three wins and two placings from five starts with prizemoney topping $325,000.
"You always have to have Plan B but that wasn't even a Plan B for me," Tommy Berry said.
"He was so well behaved today and he stood in the gates beautifully and quiet but when the starter called 'all clear', usually the gates open not long after.
"I gave him a bit of a squeeze to jump but there was a hold-up so he hit the front of the gates.
"He took a step back and lunged out. We were hoping for an easy run today with two weeks' time in mind and he really only sprinted 500-metres."
Berry was quick to praise Andrew Adkins, who has been the regular rider for Ninja.
“Andrew Adkins deserves all the credit, today is the first time I’ve ridden the horse, he;s done all the work and I’m lucky to reap the reward,” Berry added.
A $380,000 Magic Millions purchase from Segenhoe Stud for MyRacehorse Pty Ltd/Michael Freedman Racing/Gandharvi Pty Ltd/Belmont Bloodstock Agency, Ninja was bred by Fairway Thoroughbreds, who retain a share in his ownership.
He is the best of three winners from four foals to race from Impulsive, a metro winning half-sister by So You Think to Group I winner Laisserfaire, Group III winner A Time for Julia and stakes-winners Time Thief, Foreplay and Personify, the dam of Group I VRC Oaks winner Personal.
Impulsive is the last foal of Group winning blue hen Procrastinate and was given a trip to the Northern Hemisphere in 2023 to be covered by champion French sire Siyouni so has a yearling colt by him and then produced a filly by Anamoe in 2025 before being covered by Harry Angel (IRE).
Ninja is the fourth stakes-winner for Kia Ora Stud’s Farnan, who had a big fee increase last year to $77,000 and covered 141 mares.
His progeny will be in keen demand at Magic Millions where he has 24 entries.
