Star Perth three-year-old Night War bounced back to her brilliant best at Ascot yesterday with an outstanding come from behind win in the Group Three $125,000 Sir Ernest Lee-Steere Classic (1400m).
Cleverly ridden off the speed by Patrick Carbery, Night War flew home over the concluding stages to beat her last start conqueror Watermans Bay in a driving finish.
Crowned the champion juvenile of Western Australia last season having captured the Group Two Karrakatta Plate, Night War is now the winner of two of her three runs at three.
Winning trainer Simon Miller said it was the plan to ride the General Nediym filly off the speed in the Perth feature and he praised Carbery for his expert handling of the filly.
“He rises to the occasion PJC, when you put those bigger races on – he showed in the Karrakatta he gave her an absolute dream ride.”
“I said before the race – the leaders are getting a bit swamped late. She’s usually very quick out of the gates but I said if she jumps on a par with them don’t be fightened to come a few pairs back.”
“Try and give her a cushy run and like we did in the Karrakatta wait until the straight before you push the go button.”
Everything went according to pre-race plans and she knuckled down late in the race and notched her second group win.
“Her work on Tuesday morning was nothing short of brilliant. I was stepping her up to the middle distance style of work at home and her blood was oustanding. She was showing no signs of being stressed or taxed by stepping her up.”
“I always thought the 1400 wouldn’t be an issue but until you get there and have a crack at it you never know,” Miller added.
Connections are eyeing off a Melbourne Autumn carnival campaign for Night War – but what she does between now and then remains undecided.
“There’s plenty of different options for her,” Miller said. “We could freshen her up for the Summer Scorcher and then look at the Magic Millions 3YO race here in Perth – that is set weights and would suit her.”
“Otherwise she could go to the paddock with Melbourne in the autumn in mind – either way she will be running in Melbourne at some stage.”
“She’s a quality filly and she’s now a group winner at two and three and she’s turned out a great buy at $90,000,” Miller added.
A $90,000 purchase by Miller at the 2010 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Night War has past half a million dollars in earnings from just her seventh start for owners Peter Bell and Ray Meadowcroft.
A daughter of former Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner General Nediym, Night War is one of three winners, from three to race, for Samar.
A multiple Sydney winner by Secret Savings, Samar is a half sister to the triple Group One winner County Tyrone and the stakes placed, six time winner Al Wafi.
Samar’s latest yearling, an attractive filly by exciting first season sire Northern Meteor, will go under the hammer at January’s Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
A member of the quality packed Baramul Stud draft, the bay or brown filly is catalogued as Lot 276 and she will be up for the grabs during the sale’s second session.
Winner: Night War
Breeding: General Nediym-Samar (Secret Savings)
Race: WATC Lee Steere Classic G3 (1400m)
Sold for: $90,000
Sale: 2010 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Vendor: Baramul Stud
Buyer: Aquanita Racing
Earnings: $509,546
Owner(s): PF Bell & RD Meadowcroft
Trainer: Simon Miller (Ascot)
