Last season’s boom filly Najoom is thriving in her Spring Carnival preparation with her main goal being the Group 1 $500,000 Myer Classic (1600m) for the fillies and mares at Flemington on Derby Day, October 31.
The Gai Waterhouse trained Najoom is being aimed towards the Myer Classic at Flemington. Photo by Daniel Costello.
Trainer Gai Waterhouse is overly excited about the Spring prospects of Najoom who will barrier trial at Randwick on Monday in preparation for her return to the race track in the Group 3 $150,000 William Hill Sprint Series Heat 1 Stakes (Cockram Stakes) (1200m) Caulfield on August 29.
“Najoom will resume in the Group 3 Cockram Stakes at Caulfield on the 29th of August,” Waterhouse said on her website.
“The Myer Classic is this mare’s major spring goal, but I must add that she is going exceptionally well and may even exceed my expectations.”
“She is one for your black book as she will be hard to beat for her entire preparation.”
Najoom hit the spotlight when she bolted in the Group 3 $150,000 Blacktown Workers Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m) at Rosehill on May 9 by three and three quarter lengths and then repeated that effort with a three and a quarter lengths win in the Group 3 $125,000 Sita Australia Fred Best Classic (1350m) at Doomben during the Brisbane Winter Carnival.
But that’s where her Winter campaign came to an end when she had to miss a run in the Group 1 $2m AAMI Stradbroke Handicap (1350m) at Doomben on June 6 because of a minor leg injury after a $30,000 late entry fee was paid.
Then Najoom missed out on a run in the Group 1 $500,000 Sky Racing Tattersall’s Club Tiara (1400m) at the Gold Coast on June 20 when she was relegated to second emergency.
The Northern Meteor mare has won five times and been in the runner’s up stall twice from seven starts and has earned $253,000 in prizemoney.
Najoom is likely to clash with stablemates Amanpour and Adrift who have also been earmarked for the Myer Classic at Flemington.
Amanpour scored an upset win in the Group 1 $1m Cellarbrations Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on April 11, the second day of ‘The Championships’ during the Sydney Autumn Carnival.
Adrift’s best effort was a win, also at huge odds, in the Group 2 $175,000 Liberty International Underwriters Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) at Randwick at the beginning of the Autumn Carnival.
