South African Stakes Winner For Northern Meteor

Lightly raced Northern Meteor colt Mitraad claimed his first Black Type success in South Africa on Saturday when scoring a tenacious win in the Listed Secretariat Stakes at Turffontein.

The Mike de Kock trained three year-old won on debut back in July and was second at his only run since then when resuming from a spell in November.

Burdened with top weight of 60 kg for this 1400 metre assignment he emerged triumphant scoring by a neck.

Yet another successful Inglis Easter purchase for Sheikh Hamdan’s Shadwell Australasia, Mitraad was snapped up for $210,000 from the draft of Attunga Stud.

Mitraad is a half-brother to smart Flemington stakes-winner Combat Kitty and is one of five winners from O’Reilly mare Fondle, who comes from the family of Group I winners Danaupair Starlet and Governor’s Bay.

Mitraad is the 13th stakes-winner for ill-fated Northern Meteor, whose final crop of yearlings will sell in 2015, 28 of them catalogued for the Magic Millions.

* BIG BROWN has continued his perfect strike rate with Big Strike becoming his third winner from as many starters in South Africa.

Prepared by Alec Laird, the Big Brown gelding saluted in the 1160 metre maiden at Turffontein, forging clear of the field of 16 to win by a length and a half at just his second start.

Big Strike was easy on debut over 1250m at Scotsville but stepped up in distance with ease and looks to have the making of a serious horse.

A $40,000 Inglis Premier purchase from the Vinery draft for Kerry Jack Bloodstock, Big Strike is the second winner for South African stakes-winner Gathering Storm.

Gathering Storm produced a colt by another first season sire in Congrats the following season.

The gelding is one of 20 first crop winners from Big Brown's first southern hemisphere crop which also includes the stakes placed Muscovado and Wroclaw.


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