Singapore Stakes Win for Nandowra

Inform stallion Savabeel sired his 15th stakes winner, his first in Singapore, with Nandowra (NZ) winning the S$200,000 Sgp-3 Moonbeam Vase (1800m) at Kranji on Sunday night.

Trained by Michael Freedman, Nandowra (Savabeel x Fabaz) was ridden by leading Australian jockey Craig Williams and led the field in the early part of the race before being headed in the straight, but fought back bravely in the final stages to win by a neck.

Running on a wet track, Nandowra had only had one start on soft ground when unplaced in the Singapore Gold Cup in November last year and Freedman expressed some concern to Williams prior to the race as to whether Nandowra would handle the footing.

Nandowra (inside) fights back to win the Sgp-3 Moonbeam Vase. Photo courtesy of the STC.

"When he was headed soon after straightening he didn't look to be handling the ground but Craig picked him up when he needed to and got the best out of him," said Freedman.

The trainer said Nandowra would now have a break before being prepared for the Group 1 Emirates Singapore Derby (2000m) in July.

"I was keen to try him over a bit of ground on the turf and he's come through it well," said Freedman.

"Even though he's a four-year-old he's still learning what racing is all about and when he finally puts it altogether I think he might be a handy stayer of the future."

Nandowra won three consecutive races coming into the Sgp-3 contest with Sunday's victory taking his tally to seven from just 14 starts. At age three the son of Savabeel placed in the Sgp-2 Three-Year-Old Classic and ran fourth in the Sgp-1 Singapore Guineas.

Bred by Garry Chittick, Nandowra was purchased by Peter Moody from Waikato Stud at New Zealand Bloodstock's 2009 Karaka Premier Sale for $25,000. He has now won over S$460,000.