Ciaron Maher has All-Star Mile aspirations with Nugget after the six-year-old gelding notched his seventh win in 15 starts in the Listed Lord Stakes (1700m) at Sandown.
Disappointed that Nugget was balloted out of the Group 2 The Ingham (1600m) at Randwick on December 10, this victory in return has the Melbourne Cup-winning trainer thinking that the $5 million 1600-metree feature to be run this time at Moonee Valley is right up Nugget’s alley.
Part-owned by Australian Bloodstock – connections of Gold Trip – their colours were carried to victory in the 2021 All-Star Mile on the only other occasion the race was run at The Valley.
“They’ve found a really nice horse here,” Maher said.
“I thought we were really going to raise the bar and get him into The Ingham.
“He’s stepped up to stakes level now and on the back of this probably target a race like the All-Star Mile. I think he’s got that quality.”
The time of 1:42.29 was 0.02 seconds outside of the track record set by Near Queue in 2018.
“When you see Johnny (Allen) sitting on them like a church mouse at the 300 (metre mark) he must have felt pretty good underneath him.”
The task now is attract enough votes for Nugget to make the All-Star Mile field which Maher is confident of give the gelding’s rising ratings but at the same time will plan a lead-up program for the horse to be prominent in voters’ minds.
“We’ll start banging the drum and getting a few votes.”
By French sire Siyouni, Nugget started the $1.75 Unibet Aus favourite with Life Lessons ($2.90) 1¼-lengths away in second and See Marie ($20) a further 3¾-lengths away in third.
“After two solid wins in Sydney, he’s a proper progressive horse,” Maher said.
“I think he’s a Group 1 handicapper but the All-Star Mile looks ideal for him.”