Three more winners the past week have showcased Nadeem’s outstanding winners to runners ratio of 65%, but it’s his ability to also generate a high percentage of black-type performers which has connections of two of NZ’s more promising three-year-olds rightfully optimistic as their charges return to training ahead of new season engagements.
Part owner and trainer Mark Oulaghan has always held his filly Shared Secrets (Nadeem-Sacred Steps by O’Reilly) in high regard.
“She’s been back in work for a week and I think she can develop into a pretty good horse over ground,” he said.
Fourth in the Group 3 Desert Gold Stakes at just her third appearance, Shared Secrets rounded out her first campaign with a win in the NZ St Leger Trial before a midfield finish in the G1 NZ Oaks won by Bonneval.
Redeem The Dream (Nadeem-Knocknacrea by Green Desert), who became his sire’s first NZ stakes performer when second in the Listed 3 Year Old Salver, recently returned to work with Cambridge trainer Shaune Ritchie, and like Shared Secrets, Redeem The Dream’s three-year-old form was very encouraging.
Defeating subsequent Group 2 place -getter Nicoletta when breaking his maiden at his second start, the attractive looking colt rounded out his season with a fourth place finish behind Gingernuts in the Group 2 Avondale Guineas before he was unplaced in the Group 1 NZ Derby.
With his winners to runners average and a stakeswinners to runners average exceeding the “good stallions” benchmark of 5%, Nadeem is in rarefied territory for NZ stallions in his 2017 service fee price range of $6,500 plus GST.
