Flemington winner for Al Samer

MAY 10, 2010: Al Samer was represented by his first metropolitan winner when Mr Chard posted an impressive victory over 1410 metres at Flemington last weekend.

Despite racing wide for the majority of the contest, the Dean Lawson-trained juvenile managed to produce a strong late finish in the straight, making-up a five-six lengths leeway over the final 250 metres of the contest to score by a length. The first-crop son of Al Samer was racing beyond 1100 metres for the first time in his brief career and appeared to relish the extra ground.

Lawson purchased Mr Chard for just $18,000 at the 2009 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and this year bought his full-sister for $9,000 at the 2010 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale. The Flemington-based trainer has enjoyed notable success with members of this female family, preparing close relation Cool Trent to win in stakes company as a 2-year-old and to finish runner-up in a Group 2 VRC Ascot Vale Stakes.

Mr Chard, his yearling full-sister and Cool Trent were all bred by Emirates Park and hail from a celebrated Australian family that features the Group 1 winners Canny Lad, Canny Lass, Camarena and Camarilla. First-dam of Mr Chard is an unraced daughter of Secret Savings (USA).

FOOTNOTE: Magnetosphere was another member of Al Samer’s first-crop to figure over the same weekend. The maternal grand-daughter of El Moxie (USA) placed second in a $40,000 2YO Plate staged over 1200 metres in Hobart.