Trainer Jeff Noske will keep his options open after nominating Destroy for the Seacorp Hcp (1600m) at Belmont this Saturday.

Destroy (4g Natural Blitz – Old Model by Old Spice) has a future in the staying ranks and Noske was considering a Goldfields campaign after the gelding won at Belmont last month. “I was keen on a trip to Kalgoorlie until he developed a hoof abscess,” Noske explained. “Although it’s cleared up, he missed too much work. Hopefully, we can get him right for the round next year.”

Destroy has overcome a number of setbacks to get where he is today. “He cut a leg pretty badly and that put him on the sidelines. Then we almost lost him after an adverse reaction to medication,” Noske recalled. “We persevered because he has so much ability. The further he goes, the better.”

Jeff treats Destroy like one of the family and nepotism is rife at Noske’s stables. The Natural Blitz gelding is owned by Jeff’s wife Jodie and his brother Mark. Their son Jarrad rides him and their daughter Jerry is the strapper!

Destroy’s dam is a sister to Lawmaker (Old Spice) who won the WATC St Leger and Belmont Classic in 1998. Four years later, he emerged from the wilderness to claim the Kalgoorlie, Boulder and Coolgardie Cups.

Noske rode Lawmaker in all three legs of the treble in 2002 and that was part of the attraction when he purchased Destroy as a foal from Durham Lodge.

Natural Blitz (Dehere) was a G2 winner at Caulfield, Moonee Valley, Rosehill and Eagle Farm as well as being runner-up in Northerly’s second G1 Australian Cup at Flemington. He has been represented by 10 individual winners from 20 starters out of his first crop.

Mogumber Park owners Colin Brown and Fiona Lacey will stand Natural Blitz for a $2,500 service fee this year.

NATURAL BLITZ
Mogumber Park resident is the sire of promising stayer Destroy