The $500,000 Magic Millions National Classic (1600m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday did not carry Black Type, but it was the richest race on the program outside of the Queensland Oaks and the winner Nudge will head next to the Group I Tattersalls Tiara on June 26.
Trained by Chris Waller and ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, Nudge claimed her first Black Type success at her previous start when winning the Group III BRC Pam O’Neill Stakes (1600m) and produced a similar performance on Saturday.
Dropped
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out to last, she powered home to win by half a length taking her overall record to four wins and seven placings from 20 starts with earnings in excess of $747,000A perennial bridesmaid for much of her career, Nudge appears to have turned a corner.
"They seem to thrive when they find that confidence. Her runs in Sydney were good and since she has been here in the Queensland stable, she has basically gone to a whole new level," Waller said.
"We've basically taken luck out of the equation at her last two, she has gone back near-last from wide draws and Kerrin hasn't panicked and she's got the job done both times.
"Coming back to 1400 metres, today was a mile, look we'll keep her nice and fresh, keep her in this Queensland sun and hope she draws a gate (in the Tattersall's Tiara) where she can be that touch closer and just make it a touch easier as well."
A $380,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Lime Country Thoroughbreds draft for Waller Racing/Mulcaster Bloodstock, Nudge runs for a large group of stable clients that now have a very valuable broodmare prospect on their hands.
Nudge is a half-sister to Group I winner Julinsky Prince and Group III placed Foreign Prince being from stakes-winning Stravinsky (USA) mare Julinsky Princess.
