Nereus (NZ) Too Strong in Counties Cup

Waikato Stud homebred Nereus (NZ) (Savabeel) flexed his staying muscle with a tough win in Saturday’s $170,000 Group Three TAB Counties Cup (2100m) at Pukekohe.

Nereus was offered by Ohukia Lodge at the 2021 NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka, where he failed to meet his $200,000 reserve. Retained to race in the famous Waikato Stud colours, the gelding has earned $382,091 from a 14-start career that has produced six wins and five placings.

Trainers Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray have always seen Nereus as a big-race stayer in the making, and he took a big step towards fulfilling that potential with four wins last season including the Group Two Awapuni Gold Cup (2100m).

Things had not gone to plan through the early part of the five-year-old’s spring preparation, prompting Ritchie and Murray to abandon the idea of a trip to Melbourne. But his display of stamina and class at Pukekohe on Saturday might have been a turning point for his season.

Nereus and jockey Joe Doyle enjoyed a comfortable midfield run in seventh among a field that became widely strung out as a riderless horse charged forward to take the lead. That increased the tempo of the race and turned it into a true test of stamina, and Nereus showed just how much of that he has.

Doyle asked Nereus to quicken in the straight and he responded impressively, bounding to the lead with 150 metres remaining. Qali Al Farrasha (NZ) (Almanzor) went with him and briefly appeared to be getting the upper hand in their battle, but Nereus lifted again and shook her off to win by half a length.

“When the loose horse went around, the speed was really on and that set it up nicely for us,” Doyle said. “I thought he was going to be right in it, and he was good and tough up the straight. The Te Akau horse (Qali Al Farrasha) went past him, but he knuckled down and got back in front.”

For Ritchie, Saturday’s feature staying success was welcome reward after a frustrating spring.

“Things just didn’t really go to plan with him earlier on,” the Cambridge trainer said. “So we just backed off him for a bit. He just wasn’t there that last 10 percent, but the warmer temperatures overnight recently have brought his coat through. He’s really picked up his appetite in recent weeks, so the signs were that he could go well today and he has.

“We always thought he’d make a stayer, and he’s always promised to win a race like this.

“It’s fantastic for Colm and me to have a horse like this winning in the Waikato Stud colours. They are obviously a big part of New Zealand racing, and it’s great to do it for Mark and George (Chittick) who are here at the track.

“This horse has a magnificent pedigree, being by a champion stallion who keeps producing and out of a fantastic mare. It suggests he is going to get up over a bit more ground. There’s a lot of money in those two-mile races, so it would be nice if we could get him up to that trip.”

Vendor	Ohukia Lodge Ltd
Breeding	Savabeel – Eudora
Sale	Lot 108, 2021 Ready to Run Sale, Psd (Res $200,000)
Bred by	Waikato Stud Ltd