Australia calling rising star Nereus

Nereus continued his rise through the grades on Saturday afternoon when he successfully passed the sternest test of his fledgling career at Trentham.

The Waikato Stud-bred and raced son of Savabeel overcame a soft track to triumph in the G3 Awapuni Gold Cup over 2100 metres and a trip across the Tasman now beckons the exciting four-year-old.

“He’s a real winner and a very, very good horse. He’s definitely better on top of the ground so it’s exciting times ahead,” said Shaune Ritchie, who trainers in partnership with Colm Murray.

Nereus has now won five of his eight starts and his latest success has brought an Australian target firmly into focus.

“In a fortnight’s time is the Mornington Cup (Listed, 2400m) and that offers a golden ticket into the Caulfield Cup (G1, 2400m),” Ritchie said.

“He’s a nifty horse and I think he will get around Mornington and Caulfield well.

“He’s got the pedigree, he’s got the temperament and he’s got the will to win.”

Nereus jumped well at Trentham to cruise along in fourth spot off the fence and he finished determinedly for rider Joe Doyle in the closing 150 metres.

“It’s nice when they get into the one-one in any race and that’s what these good jockeys do,” Ritchie said.

Nereus is a brother to the two-time Group 1 winner Savvy Coup with their dam the Pins mare Eudora. She is a sister to the Group winners Legless Veuve and Tootsie, dam of the three-time Group 2 winner and sire Ocean Emperor and the mother of Waikato Stud’s G1 Flight Stakes winner Never Been Kissed.

The other heavily decorated member of this family is the four-time elite level winner Probabeel.