Ninja demonstrated superior ability against a modest but talented field in Sydney’s inaugural stakes race of the new season, the Group 2 $300,000 Missile Stakes (1200m).
The Michael Freedman-trained Ninja established a new race record, completing the distance in 1 minute 08.28 seconds – a time that would have been sufficient to win many Everest races.
It is also noteworthy that Ninja is partly owned by John Camilleri, who holds an Everest slot through his Fairway Thoroughbreds banner.
“Any trainer with a half-decent sprinter dreams of going to The Everest at this time of year and why not!” Freedman remarked. “He seems to have come back in great order and his form has been so consistent. If he continues to take the next step then we have got to dream big.”
Ninja ($5), expertly ridden by star jockey Tommy Berry, needed to exert some effort in the early stages to settle in second behind pacesetter Way To The Stars. He then unleashed a powerful sprint in the straight to secure a victory by just over a length from Napoleonic ($9), with favourite Angel Capital ($2.20) closing strongly for third.
Berry, who notched his third Missile Stakes triumph, equalling the race riding record, commented that Ninja possesses considerable talent and is still developing.
“I thought he was very impressive today,” Berry stated. “I was trying to get cover early but it didn’t quite work out so I sat on him, waited until the speed came out of it and I was able to get across. He relaxed really well, he came back under me, and he was travelling coming up the rise. He’s very talented and he’s in for a good preparation.”
TAB Fixed Odds adjusted Ninja’s price from $26 to $15 for the upcoming Group 1 $20 million The TAB Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick on October 17. The current favourite is Hong Kong champion Ka Ying Rising at $1.60.
Historically, the Missile Stakes has served as a launchpad for Everest campaigns, as seen with Alizee in 2019.
Alizee, a multiple Group 1 winner, claimed the Missile Stakes as the $1.30 favourite before finishing seventh in The Everest behind Yes Yes Yes some weeks later.
Eduardo secured his first stakes victory in almost two years in the 2020 Missile Stakes and subsequently competed in three Everests, finishing unplaced in each. His best result was a third placing behind Nature Strip in 2021.
I Am Me, under the ownership of Dean Watt’s Dynamic Syndications, won the Missile in 2023 but missed an Everest start that spring. She instead won the Sydney Stakes on Everest day, defeating Airman and Bella Nipotina.
However, I Am Me earned an Everest selection the following year after victories in the Concorde Stakes and The Shorts, ultimately finishing unplaced in the world’s richest turf race behind Bella Nipotina.
Ninja was visibly blowing post-race, indicating significant improvement potential with over two months remaining until The Everest.
Freedman intends to monitor Ninja’s recovery from his first-up win before considering a start in the Group 1 $1 million Winx Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick in two weeks against champion mare Autumn Glow.
“He is having a decent blow after the race but he had to do it a bit harder than what we were anticipating,” Freedman confirmed. “But to his credit he is a very exciting horse. I told John (Camilleri) early in the week that this horse is going really well. He wasn’t screwed right down for today but he looks to have a good spring ahead. In the back of my mind, depending on how he goes in this race and more importantly how he pulls up, I’ve been thinking of going to the Winx Stakes. I think we can pick our way a little bit now, there’s also a couple of nice races in Melbourne, too.”
For those interested in the upcoming spring features, the racing odds for The Everest are already shaping up, with Ninja now firmly in contention.