Ninja proved too good for a small but select field in Sydney’s first stakes race of the new season, the Group 2 $300,000 Missile Stakes (1200m).
The Michael Freedman-trained Ninja ran a race record 1m 08.28s – a time which would have won most Everests.
It should also be pointed out that Ninja is part-owned by John Camilleri who has an Everest slot under 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 said.
“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), ridden by star jockey Tommy Berry, had to do a bit of work early to eventually cross into second position behind early leader Way To The Stars before he accelerated clear in the straight to win by just over a length from Napoleonic ($9) and favourite Angel Capital ($2.20) hit the line strongly late for third. Those searching for the best betting apps Australia would have seen Ninja stamp himself as a genuine spring contender.
Berry, who rode his third winner of the Missile Stakes after Phobetor (2021) and Sweet Idea (2014) to equal the race riding record, said Ninja is loaded with ability and still improving.
“I thought he was very impressive today,” Berry said.
“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 price assessors firmed Ninja from $26 into $15 for the Group 1 $20 million The TAB Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick on October 17. Hong Kong superstar and defending champion Ka Ying Rising is the $1.60 favourite.
The Missile Stakes has been used previously to launch Everest campaigns, including with Alizee in 2019.
Alizee, a three-time Group 1 winner, won the Missile as the $1.30 favourite and then some weeks later ran seventh in The Everest behind Yes Yes Yes.
Eduardo won his first stakes race in nearly two years in the 2020 Missile Stakes and then during spring the rejuvenated sprinter contested the first of his three The Everests, finishing unplaced to Classique Legend. He then ran third to Nature Strip in 2021 and unplaced behind Giga Kick in 2022.
I Am Me, raced by Dean Watt’s Dynamic Syndications, won the Missile in 2023 but missed an Everest start that spring, instead winning the Sydney Stakes beating Airman and Bella Nipotina the same day as The Everest.
But I Am Me returned the following year to earn Everest selection after wins in the Concorde Stakes and The Shorts then finished unplaced in the world’s richest turf race behind Bella Nipotina.
Ninja was blowing noticeably after the Missile which indicated he has plenty of improvement to come and there is still more than two months to The Everest.
Freedman said he wants to see how Ninja comes through his first-up win but hasn’t ruled out taking on champion mare Winx Stakes favourite Autumn Glow in the Group 1 $1 million Winx Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick in two weeks.
“He is having a decent blow after the race but he had to do it a bit harder than what we were anticipating,” Freedman said. “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.”
