NAVAL TRADER landed some good bets when the consistent gelding chalked up his fourth win at Doomben on Wednesday.
The son of MERCHANT NAVY was around $3.80 when our times analyst Nic Ashman sent out his form report to our owners.
“If we can overcome a sticky map then we are clearly the horse to beat,” Ashman said.
The grey five-year-old was heavily backed late from $3.50 to $3.10 and it wasn’t the best start for favourite backers with NAVAL TRADER sluggish away.
But jockey Nikita Berriman exercised patience and then allowed NAVAL TRADER to kick up and hold a spot one of the fence, three pairs back.
The pair got a lovely cart up on the back of eventual second placegetter KADALL before launching their claim. A buffeting dual didn’t help but Berriman cleverly used the scrimmage to hold her rival in a pocket.
Heads up heads down, and it’s Naval Trader who wins in a photo! 📸@hoystedracing pic.twitter.com/fcsEizq5Jk
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 25, 2024
On the line NAVAL TRADER ($3.10) had 0.1L to spare over KADALL ($3.70) with the same margin back to SUBSTANTIAL ($6.50) in third. The race time of 1:18.58 was more than a second quicker than the other 1350m event on the day.
The gelding’s record now reads 4 wins and 8 placings from 13 starts proving he is one of the most consistent gallopers currently racing in south-east Queensland.
NAVAL TRADER, an orphaned foal expertly reared at Fernrigg Farm, was a $120,000 purchase at the 2021 Australian Inglis Easter Yearling sale and becomes our 7th winner for the 2024-25 season.
