First winner by Nom Du Jeu

Fairdale Stud stallion Nom Du Jeu (NZ) broke through for his first winner at Sale on Sunday.

The Colin Little trained gelding Millau led into the straight and saw off a strong challenge from runner-up Open All Hours (Wanted) for a long neck success in the Brown Wigg Maiden Plate (1400m).

Millau (3g Nom Du Jeu – Recollection by Zabeel) wasn’t sighted during his first two starts at Geelong and Morphettville but dug deep for a gutsy victory third time out.  He was bred by Palmerston North based Fairdale Stud and sold for $80,000 at the 2013 NZB Karaka Premier Sale.

“I fell in love with him at Karaka,” Little recalled.  “He’s a strong individual, very well balanced with a fantastic temperament.   I had looked at over 500 yearlings he kept drawing me back.

“I actually only had $40,000 budgeted but in the heat of the battle I kept going as I really wanted him.”

Little trains him for a syndicate that includes Sean Carroll, Brad Castricum, Garry Cranny, Doug Edwards, Ron Halse, Sean Hammond, David Horsburgh, Jeff Krake, Ken Newman, Dennis Nicol and David O’Brien.

Nom Du Jeu was a Group 1 winner of the 2008 AJC Derby.  A son of Montjeu, he covered a big book first-up at Fairdale Stud in 2010 and among his mares was Recollection who won a Taupo maiden over 1950m for Fairdale’s Fell family.  She is a sister to LR Marton Cup winner Etoile Du Nord.

“He’s taken a while to sire that first winner but he’s like those old-fashioned NZ staying sires,” Gerald Fell explained on Monday.  “They’re strong physical types and all they need is a bit of time.”