Group race on Nandowra’s radar

Nandowra could be on the quick back-up following his victory over 1600m in Singapore last Friday. Trainer Michael Freedman said he would monitor the gelding over the weekend he could be a starter in the Gr 3 $200,000 Polytrack Mile Championship (1600m) on March 11.

Ridden a controlled race from the front, Nandowra, under Joao Moreira, scored by a length-and-a-half. “He hadn’t raced for six or seven weeks so to win carrying 58kg has been a pretty good effort,” said Freedman.

“If he pulls-up alright then I’ll seriously consider running him in the Polytrack Mile Championship on Sunday week. He’ll have to do well over the weekend or early next week to back up again. If he doesn’t then I’ll just have to sit down and have a good look through the program to see what is available.”

Nandowra, who finished toward the tail of the field in the Longines Singapore Gold Cup in November, returned with a 1400m win in January and has always been highly regard by Freedman who believes the gelding is capable of winning a feature race. Moreira was high in his praise for the gelding after he was able to dictate the pace from the front, running the 1600m journey in 1 min 40.74 secs.

“I was a bit surprised I was able to find the front and slow up the pace like I did,” said Moreira. “I didn’t think I would lead but when they were slow away inside me I was happy to take up the lead. He gave a good kick when we got into the straight and he did stretch out well, however he did switch off a bit in the final stages.”

Nandowra has proven to be a model of consistency in Singapore and he topped the $300,000 mark for the Results Stable with his win on Friday night. A four-year-old by Savabeel, Nandowra has five wins and four minor placings to his credit from 12 career starts. He was a $25,000 purchase from WS’s 2009 Premier Sale draft and is out of the winning O’Reilly mare Fabaz, who is a half-sister to the Gr 3 Summer Cup winner Zanetta (Centaine). – Singapore Turf Club