First stakes horse for Al Samer

MAY 17, 2010: Al Samer was responsible for his first stakes horse when Mr Chard finished runner-up in a high-quality renewal of the Listed VRC Gibson Carmichael Stakes (1600m).

A last-start winner over 1400 metres at Flemington, Mr Chard was ridden back in the field for the first half of the Gibson Carmichael before being asked to make his finishing effort around the outside of his opposition. Despite covering plenty of extra ground around the home turn, the talented son of Al Samer found the line in determined fashion to finish a game second behind the royally-bred Precious Lorraine.

Carrying top-weight of 58kg, Mr Chard conceded at least 1kg to all of his rivals, and as much as 5kg in some cases, yet still managed to beat all but one horse home. Significantly, the winner Precious Lorraine is a daughter of champion sire Encosta de Lago from a stakes-placed full-sister to champion sire Redoute’s Choice.

The first 1600-metre contest of the Victorian 2-year-old racing calendar, the Gibson Carmichael generally proves to be a very good guide to future feature events for the same generation. Recent renewals have been won by the subsequent Group 1 performers Run For Naara, Masked Assassin and Apache Cat.