SAM Kavanagh was understandably downcast when a mare he bought for friends in Adelaide more than a decade back went amiss at her first start for him.
That mare Lis Nediym, a daughter of General Nediym (13 times winner including dual Group 1s, 1998 Lightning Handicap and Newmarket Handicap at Flemington), ran a close third as favorite in a Benchmark 75 Handicap (1000m) at Morphettville in October 2012.
“Unfortunately she did a suspensory and I was pretty upset as I thought we could win races with her,” Kavanagh said on Thursday afternoon.
Thankfully, there is a better side to the story.
“That was the end of Lis Nediym’s racing career, but my partner Kelly Fawcett and myself were able to breed from her,” Kavanagh said.
“Being lucky enough to know the Mitchell boys at Yarraman Park, she produced a foal by their great stallion I Am Invincible (I Am Venus), which brought $160,000 as a yearling.
“Her next foal The Fossil, which I trained, won a Highway Handicap at Rosehill Gardens when I was based in the country at Muswellbrook before moving to Newcastle.
“And then she produced a Deep Field colt, which fetched $180,000. Named Aheadofhistime, he has won eight races.”
There was even better news at Coffs Harbour on Thursday when another Lis Nediym foal Nerola (by Nicconi) won on debut for Kavanagh and Fawcett, who races the mare with the owners who initially bought the dam.
Ridden by Robbie Downey, Nerola ($4.40) turned what appeared certain defeat into an impressive victory by powering home to overhaul the leader Mawsons Expedition ($5) in the Maiden Plate (805m).
Fellow Newcastle trainer Mark Minervini’s $2.15 favorite Toyger was third, notching yet another placing; his eighth from 14 starts.
“The 805m really was a bit short for Nerola, but she has a good turn of foot,” Kavanagh said.
“She hasn’t raced until now as she got an infected leg as a two-year-old, and then we trialled her twice in February and March as a three-year-old and turned her out again.
Kavanagh sent Nerola to Coffs Harbour to begin her career, after finishing third in an 800m trial at Hawkesbury on August 24.
“If she can manage 1200m eventually, I’m sure she can progress to being competitive in town,” he added.
Story John Curtis, September 5, 2024 - Pic supplied
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