The Wilgerbosdrift bred Nassa, an R800 000 purchase from the 2014 National Yearling Sale, impressed with a track record breaking victory in Sunday’s G3 SA SA Ladies Purse in Hong Kong.
The bay son of Wilgerbosdrift bred champion Dynasty, who gave trainer Tony Millard a third consecutive win in the Ladies Purse, settled handily in mid-rank as Joao Moreira dictated the pace on the even-money favourite Time Warp. The strapping leader kicked on at the top of the stretch and with 250m to race it looked to be a question of how much distance Moreira’s mount would put between himself and the field.
However, the Connie Siu owned Nassa was not to be denied and he ran on strongly to prevail by a head, landing his first Hong Kong win in the process. (Among those beaten by Nassa this weekend were Australian G1 winners Romantic Touch (J.J Atkins Stakes) and Eagle Way (Queensland Derby)).
Millard, who also saddled fourth place finisher and last year’s winner Horse Of Fortune, said after the win, “It’s very special to do it with Nassa of all horses. I bought him as a yearling in South Africa and he can be anything. We’ve always known that he is very good and today he showed it – I really think he’s something special.”
Nassa is likely to have his next outing in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup on December 10th.
He was produced by the Rich Man’s Gold Man mare Cosima Liszt, whose four previous winners include G1 Summer Cup hero Wagner.
Nassa also continues the great run of form enjoyed by former Wilgerbosdrift bred sire Rich Man’s Gold, whose daughters have been throwing graded winners with regularity.
Rich Man’s Gold, who is also the sire of Sunday’s G3 Nashua Stakes winner Avery Island’s second dam, is broodmare sire of last season’s graded stakes winners Brave Mary (G1 Allan Robertson Championship), Neptune’s Rain (G3 Strelitzia Stakes) and Coral Fever (G3 Jubilee Handicap).