Siyouni Gelding Nugget (GB) Dominates Lord Stakes

Mark Smith - Monday December 26

Ciaron Maher said he will start drumming up support for Nugget (GB) in the $5,000,000 All-Star Mile after Australian Bloodstock’s Siyouni (FR) gelding opened his stakes account in the Listed Ladbrokes Lord Stakes (1700m) at Sandown-Hillside on Boxing Day.

Stakes breakthrough for Nugget (GB) (image Racing Victoria)

Australian Bloodstock has an All-Star Mile trophy in the cabinet courtesy of Mugatoo in 2021. But he was trained by Kris Lees, so Maher and his partner David Eustice will be keen to add one of the few features to elude them in Melbourne.

With just five starters in the Lord Stakes, John Allen had Nugget (GB) in a striking position as the veteran, So Si Bon took up the running.

It was clear from a long way out that Nugget and second favourite Life Lessons would fight the race out. Life Lessons (Tavistock) had first run, but she had no answer to Nugget (GB), which went on to win by one and a quarter lengths. Life Lessons’ stablemate See Maire (Sebring) was a further three and three-quarter lengths back in third, with both mares picking up their first black type.

Nugget (GB) was a model of consistency for Richard Hannon in England. Never further back than fourth, the son of Siyouni (FR) landed in Australia with four wins and five places from 11 starts.

Aust

Advertisement
ralian Bloodstock has been fantastic, and a lot of these owners are in Gold Trip (FR) as well,” Maher said.

They have found a really nice horse here. I thought we were going to raise the bar and get him into the Ingham (Stakes). I thought being called Nugget would have got him in.

“It wasn’t to be, but he has stepped up to stakes level now.

The taste of victory (image George Sal/Racing Photos)

“Off the back of this, we will target a race like the All-Star Mile. I think he has that quality after doing that with a big weight today.

“He ticked the box today and is racking up a good record, so we will map a plan to the All-Star Mile, so we will start banging the drum and get a few votes.”

Nugget (GB) ran his stablemate Detonator Jack to a length over 1400m on Melbourne Cup Day before winning at Kembla Grange and Randwick.

A £90,000 purchase for John and Jake Warren from the Highclere Stud draft at the 2018 Goffs (UK) Premier Yearling Sale, Nugget (GB) is the third stakes winner for the stakes-winning Galileo mare Gemstone.

The others were Fastnet Rock’s Group II winning hurdler Bedrock and the Dubawi gelding UAE Jewel a Listed winner at Newmarket.

This is the family of Power’s Group 1 Irish St Leger hero Sonnyboyliston.

Nugget (GB) is the 68th stakes-winner for Siyouni (FR), who is riding high through the deeds of Group 1 WATC Northerly Stakes winner Amelia's Jewel.

 

Advertisment

Race Result - Ladbrokes Lord Stakes LR 1700m

Sandown-Hillside Track: Good(3) Time: 1:42.29
1
Nugget
- 6g Siyouni (FR) x Gemstone (IRE) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: John Allen 60
2
1.3
Life Lessons
- 4m Tavistock (NZ) x Brockman's Lass (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: P G Moody Rdr: Jamie Kah 54
3
5.1
See Marie
- 5m Sebring (AUS) x Annamarie (AUS) (Elusive Quality (USA))
Tnr: P G Moody Rdr: D Moor 54
Sebring
4
5.2
So Si Bon
- 9g So You Think (NZ) x Black Minx (NZ) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: Ben & J D Hayes Rdr: D W Stackhouse 57.5
5
5.3
Black Sail
- 8g Savabeel (AUS) x Ennerdale (GB) (Singspiel (IRE))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: H Coffey 54.5
More Reading...
Magic Nick Strikes Again – Fastnet Rock x Galileo
The Fastnet Rock x Galileo nick has been on fire in Melbourne this spring producing Cox Plate winner Via Sistina (IRE) and leading Melbourne Cup contender Buckaroo (GB) and it struck again overnight in the UK with a brand new stakes-winner in Military Academy, who captured the Listed Floodlit Stakes (1m4f) at Kempton.
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.
All Too Hard's Arran Bay Brave in the Furphy Plate
Phillip Stokes admitted his preference was to run Arran Bay in the Listed John Letts Cup at Morphettville but was overruled by the owners, who made the correct decision in favouring the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) at Flemington.
Storm Boy Headed to Ireland
Coolmore have today announced via Twitter that top class Justify (USA) colt Storm Boy will be continuing his racing career in Ireland in 2025 under the care of Aidan O’Brien.
Cup Day Stakes-Winner for So You Think
The Listed VRC TAB Trophy (1800m) for three year-olds on Cup Day at Flemington drew a competitive field of up and comers with So You Think gelding Opening Address stamping himself as a bright prospect for the future with a stylish victory.
Tycoon Star Makes Winning Debut in G3 Maribyrnong Plate
Tycoon Star looked like the consummate professional when making a winning career debut in the Group III Darley Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) to kickstart Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.
Coolmore Set Justify Fee for 2025
Coolmore have announced the US fee for Justify in 2025 with the undefeated Triple Crown winner priced at $US250,000 to head  their roster of 16 stallions at Ashford Stud in Kentucky.
Kiwi Bred Grey Wins Subzero for OTI at Flemington
New Zealand-bred gelding Cloudland proved a handful for James McDonald at Flemington on Tuesday, but the champion jockey was in a forgiving mood after they had claimed top honours in the Subzero Handicap.
Kiwi Bred Gringotts Wins $3million Big Dance
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts(NZ) (Per Incanto) delivered a big payday for his connections with victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick.
Melbourne Cup Pedigree Analysis - Do It Yourself
Breednet has produced a great page with click through to five generation pedigrees for all the Melbourne Cup runners, so for amateur pedigree buffs looking to have a Cup flutter based pedigree here’s your chance  to DIY it!