West Australian based freshman sire Natural Blitz made it two metro winners from just five to race when Ningaloo Blitz won at Belmont on Wednesday.
Allowed to go back to last early from the outside barrier by William Pike, Ningaloo Blitz produced a long, powerful finishing burst over the concluding stages to win well.
The odds on favourite Flag Officer was at the front of the field but it was unable to hold out Ningaloo Blitz who kept coming strongly with her long run.
At the post Ningaloo Blitz’s winning margin over Classic Blitz had stretched to a length and a quarter.
Ningaloo Blitz, a $35,000 purchase by the Premium Bloodstock and Morton Racing partnership at last year’s Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale, is trained by multiple Group One winning horseman Dan Morton.
His father and fellow trainer Len represented the stable at yesterday’s meeting and said the step up from 1100 to 1650 metres was a key to the victory.
“She came from well back there,” Morton Snr said. “She didn’t seem to know a lot about it.”
“We just thought she was worth a try over the longer journey here before the end of the two-year-old season.”
“I don’t think she is able to get up there (near the lead) without punishing her,” he added. “So we told William to let her find her feet early and finish off and that’s what she did.”
“She has matured out and she’s really come on. She should make a nice three-year-old filly over some ground.”
Ningaloo Blitz is the third winner, from three to race, for the El Moxie mare Elzahoney.
Elzahoney was a city winner at Ascot in Perth over 1600 metres. She was also placed on four other occasions.
Natural Blitz, a former crack graduate of the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale, is standing this season at Cromatry Park at a service fee of $3,500.
He’s been represented by just five runners to date – for two Perth winners (Classic Blitz is the other) as well as an Ascot runner-up (Push the Tempo) – the latter is a Perth trial winner.
Winner: Ningaloo Blitz
Breeding: Natural Blitz-Elzahoney by El Moxie
Race: WATC Westspeed Nursery Handicap (1650m)
Sold for: $35,000
Sale: 2010 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale
Vendor: Queenslea Park (As Agent)
Buyer: Premium Bloodstock / Morton Racing
Earnings: $17,210
Owner(s): AJ Morton, GT Chong, M Spadanuda, G Clark, FF Fairthorne (Jnr), C Helder, A Irvine, SR Blacksell
Trainer: Daniel Morton (Ascot)
