Second Stakes Success for Speedy Minaj

Flying kiwi-bred filly Minaj (NZ) (Commands) sprinted to the second stakes win of her career with victory in the Listed A$80,000 Projection Graphics Redelva Stakes (1050m) in Adelaide on Saturday.

Minaj (NZ) is now a dual stakes winner.

The Karaka Premier Sale graduate was a Listed winner at Moonee Valley in the spring and is highly rated by her trainer Anthony Freedman who lined her up in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate at her last start.

The three-year-old filly was given a freshen up following her tilt at the Group 1 level and started as race-favourite against a talented field of three-year-olds.

Ridden by Vlad Duric, Minaj settled outside of the leader and kicked clear in the straight, speeding to victory by a length over the late closing Miracles of Life (Not a Single Doubt), last season’s Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes winner, and Lucky Symbol (Magnus) in third.

“She did a good job,” stated Freedman. “She will go back to Adelaide for the Group 1 1200m race (Sportingbet Classic). She is a fast filly who tries really hard and is building a really good record.

“The Oakleigh Plate was probably a bit too soon for her but I thought her run was ok and back to her age she was able to get the job done. Next start will be harder but we will give her a chance.”

Minaj has won five races from only nine career starts, earning A$214,475 in prizemoney for her owners Lakeview Resources Pty Ltd, Mr L Hawkins, Mr G Melideo, Mr M P Camm, Mr P R Keleher, Mr N S Carnell, Mr A L Carnell, Mr H Chan & Mr L T Mcquilken.

Bred by the Hawkins family of Wentwood Grange in Cambridge, Minaj is out of the imported American mare Ms Seneca Rock (Seneca Jones), a stakes winner as a two-year-old in the U.S.A and a sister to dual Listed winner Ms Classic Seneca (Seneca Jones).

Peter Carrick’s Lakeview Resources purchased Minaj for $130,000 at the 2012 Karaka Premier Sale from Wentwood Grange.