2 days ago
11-length debut winner Ninja passes city test with narrow win at Rosehill
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From a runaway provincial maiden win by a massive margin of more than 11 lengths to scrambling home by a short half-head in Sydney Saturday grade.
This was the often difficult transition to metropolitan class Ninja was able to negotiate successfully when he held on for a narrow win in the Asahi Super Dry Handicap (1300m) at Rosehill Gardens.
Trainer Michael Freedman had deliberately downplayed Ninja's huge maiden win but he was more effusive in his praise for the emerging three-year-old sprinter after his city success.
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'While the margin wasn't great and we certainly wouldn't want it over again, I thought there was a lot of merit in it and he's a horse with a future,'' Freedman said.
'I don't care what anybody says, even though the margin was big the other day, it's not easy going from a maiden to a Benchmark 72 in town.''
Ninja's reputation preceded him and he was sent out the $2.40 favourite.
He jumped straight to the front, dashed clear in the straight and although tiring late, held off the late surge of promising Without Peer ($9) to win by a short half-head.
Crown The King ($11) chased the leader gamely throughout and was a short-head away third with Fermoy closing off strongly to finish fourth, beaten less than a length, in a race that is likely to be a strong three-year-old form reference during the spring carnival.
Form jockey Andrew Adkins said Ninja's slender winning margin should not detract from the lightly-raced sprinter's win.
'Ninja is still a work in progress,'' Adkins said.
'It's not like he is doing things wrong but he is doing things a little upside down in places.
'But from the barriers, he stepped better today so he is slowly picking things up.
'It's hard to come out of that grade (provincial maiden) and come to Saturday against a pretty handy field and still win quite dominantly.''
Adkins said Ninja 'didn't have it easy today but he was quite tough late'.
'I don't think he needs to lead but I rode him like the best horse in the race,'' Adkins said.
'He was there and working through the bridle so I didn't want to break his confidence and rip him back just to sit off the lead.
'The more racing he does we will be able to ride him differently, too. He's exciting and still progressing. He's a horse with a lot of upside.''
Ninja, a $380,000 Magic Millions Yearling Sale purchase, is from the first crop of Golden Slipper winner Farnan and is raced in partnership by the My Racehorse Syndications which specialises in micro-shares, as well as some high profile owners including John Camilleri of Sunshine In Paris fame, Widden Stud, Sledmere Stud and Torryburn Stud.
The gelding was having just his third start in his debut preparation, having finished third at Kensington before his back-to-back wins.
Andrew Adkins speaks with the owners after Ninja's win. Picture: Getty Images
Freedman admitted he has been surprised by Ninja's rapid progression this winter.
'Looking back on it I think he might have found that Kensington track a bit tight and the 1100m a bit sharp first-up,'' the trainer said.
'He has certainly loved getting out over a bit further and just getting into a nice rhythm. He may not look like it today but I do think he will appreciate getting out over a bit further.''
Freedman agreed with Adkins that Ninja is 'still learning his craft' and is not sure he will press on with the emerging young sprinter into the spring.
'Ninja is very raw still,'' Freedman said.
'He gets a big 'jig-joggey' in the parade ring.
'He is still not really jumping away as cleanly as we'd like and he's having to be used a bit just to hold a position. When one kicked up inside him he had to use him a bit more to cross so he's done a really good job to win.
'I will see how he pulls up but I'm always a little hesitant with horses that have raced a bit through the winter how far into the spring you press on with them but he's got a bit of upside for sure.''
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Denim doubles up in city
Denim Wynen had never trained a city winner until the start of this season.
But Monkhana gave the young trainer her second Saturday winner of the month when she scored a strong win in the Midway Handicap (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens.
Monkhana's win came two weeks after mother-of-two Wynen's breakthrough metropolitan success with Sunshine Law at Rosehill on August 2.
'I'm lost for words, I can't believe it, I'm so excited,'' Wynen said.
In a blanket finish where less than a length separated the top four finishers, Monkhana ($3.50 favourite), well ridden by apprentice Anna Roper, scored by a half-length from Vetwelve ($10) with Convergent ($5) a closing strongly for third, just in front of Justela.
Monkhana ran second at the Rosehill meeting two weeks ago and Wynen, 29, returned to the track quietly confident about her mare's chances on Saturday.
'I was pretty confident with her today, without saying it,'' she said.
'She trained on well after her last start and has come back a different horse this time in, she is a lot stronger.''
Vetwelve maintained her consistent winter form with another game effort while Convergent showed promising staying potential with his strong finishing effort to claim third placing.
Originally published as 11-length debut winner Ninja passes city test with narrow win at Rosehill
