Emirates Park Victoria freshman Al Samer was back in the winner’s circle on Saturday when Mr Chard opened his account in the Cleandomain Hcp (1410m) at Flemington.
Mr Chard (2c Al Samer – Najar by Secret Savings) raced wide for the better part of the race but finished strongly to score by a length from Sistine Angel (Testa Rossa) and Population (Shamardal).
The colt has shown ability from the outset and finished fifth in the G3 Maribyrnong Plate in November. He was within a length of fourth placed Brightexpectations and that horse returned home and won the Listed Wyong Slipper and G2 Pago Pago Stakes.
After a 20 week spell, Mr Chard returned to action at Caulfield over 1000m in March. He finished midfield behind Curtana after sustaining a laceration to his near foreleg in the run. There were excuses again at Caulfield three weeks later when he was slowly away and didn’t figure in the race won by Bullbars.
Lawson gave the colt a freshener and he appreciated the familiar surroundings and the step up to 1410 metres at Flemington on Saturday.
Al Samer sired his first winner when Custom Design scored on debut at Tamworth in February and he notched another when Choegouigippeum streeted his older rivals by more than five lengths in South Korea on April 30.
Al Samer is by emerging sire of sires Redoute’s Choice and he was a G3 winner of the Canberra Black Opal Stakes. He is based at Emirates Park at Digger’s Rest and will stand for a $7,700 (inc gst) in 2010.
Mr Chard is part-owned and trained locally by Dean Lawson and went through the ring twice before arriving at headquarters. The colt was a $2,500 buy as an Inglis weanling before making $18,000 as a Magic Millions yearling.
The winner’s dam Najar is an unraced half-sister to Cool Trent (Nediym) who was also prepared by Lawson to win a Listed juvenile event at Flemington. She has a yearling sister to Mr Chard and Lawson was on the spot to buy her for $9,000 at the Adelaide Magic Millions in March.
Najar was among the first book of mares covered by G2 winning Danehill sire Mutawaajid at Emirates Park in NSW last year.