Sydney, January 1- Rapidly improving sprinter Al Be Nimble dished out a galloping lesson at Royal Randwick on New Year’s Day, blitzing his rivals to win the Listed AJC Tatts Carrington Stakes over 1100 metres by three and a half lengths.
A handsome powerful chestnut, very much in the mould of his Yarraman Park based sire Magic Albert, Al Be Nimble was sent out a hot favourite on the strength of his recent impressive form and never gave punters a moments cause for concern.
Replicating the tactics used in his most recent run when he defeated smart filly Hurried Choice at Rosehill, Al Be Nimble was ridden patiently by Larry Cassidy and when given full bore in the straight he accelerated in the manner of a very good horse.
“He was very dominant today,” said winning rider Larry Cassidy.
“He gave them a start, then picked them up and spat them out.”
Retained to race by his breeders and prepared at Kembla by Gwenda Markwell, Al Be Nimble has won four races and placed three times from nine starts earning $150,050.
Al Be Nimble becomes the first Australian stakes-winner for Magic Albert, his previous stakes-winners the Group One NZ Two Thousand Guineas winner Magic Cape and another Kiwi based horse in Alberto.
Significantly for breeders it’s worth noting that Al Be Nimble is from a Danehill mare in the imported Nimble (IRE), who was purchased last year by Yarraman Park in partnership with Denis Wilton and is now back in foal to Magic Albert.
Nimble (IRE) was a minor winner in Italy at 1600 metres and was also fourth in the A Listed event for fillies in England at Newbury. She comes from a prolific Black Type European family and Al Be Nimble is her only foal to race.
Magic Albert has been an overwhelming success for Yarraman Park since retiring to stud in 2002, his ever increasing list of winners prompting a rise in service fee in 2007 to $16,500.