Nemoralia merely had to be pointed in the right direction by Frankie Dettori to win the LR Michael Seely Memorial (1600m) at York on Friday.
The More Than Ready filly scored by 6 lengths to become the 158th stakes winner for Vinery Stud’s champion sire. “She loved the top of the ground and won like a good filly,” Dettori said. “When they pick up like that, it’s a joy.”
Dettori held her up early and then made smooth headway before pushing clear entering the final furlong. “To be honest, I’ve been absolutely thrilled with her progress in the last couple of months,” trainer Jeremy Noseda said. “I’m delighted because she will get better – this was just a stepping stone.”
Nemoralia (3f More Than Ready – Alina by Came Home) was purchased for $170,000 at the Ocala 2YO Sale by owners Terry Allan, James Lovat and Charles Pigram in March 2015. They sent her to Noseda and she won nurseries at Kempton Park and Doncaster with such authority they activated a Breeders’ Cup campaign.
She was runner-up in the G1 Frizette Stakes at Belmont Park but had no luck in running when third in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland.
That result clearly rankles Noseda and he believes they have a score to settle at Del Mar later this year. “She should have won the Breeders’ Cup,” he said. “She really should have won. Nothing went right. It poured down with rain, there was no pace in the race, we got too far back.
Nemoralia will be set for the G1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 17 before her connections make plans for a return trip to America.
The Kentucky bred filly is from Alina who also has a 2yo colt by More Than Ready. The mare was successful twice at Listed level in Louisiana and was also Group 2 placed in the Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn Park.
More Than Ready stands for a $66,000 (inc gst) service fee at Vinery.
