Ciaron Maher sprinter Nadal to spell after The Supernova before likely autumn return in Group 1 Oakleigh Plate

Promising sprinter Nadal will head for a break after The Supernova before he gets the chance to prove his Group 1 potential in the autumn.

Nadal explodes in The Meteorite at Cranbourne to win by nearly three lengths. Picture: Scott Barbour/Racing Photos via Getty Images

Explosive Meteorite winner Nadal is on track to compete for the inaugural Southside Racing slot series double.

Ciaron Maher-trained Nadal completed a maintenance jumpout at Cranbourne on Monday to tune up for the $1m The Supernova (1400m) on December 21 at Pakenham.

Nadal will head for a break after The Supernova to rest and rebuild towards the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) in February at Caulfield.

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“He’s up to it (Group 1 sprints), there’s no denying it,” assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said.

“It’s 62 days (from The Supernova) to the Oakleigh Plate, which will be his first-up crack I’d imagine, handicap conditions.

“He could have a couple weeks out in the paddock, you’re not going to lose fitness and you’re going to have him ready to go, beyond The Meteorite it (Supernova) was a very good option to have.

“Another $1m slot race, he’s had one go at 1400m and he ran three lengths to Militarize, it was a pretty messy race, but now as a gelding, older horse, he’s much more straightforward.”

Nadal showed promise as a colt last year, third in the Group 2 Run To The Rose and sixth in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes, but the ultimate gear change has turned him into a proper racehorse.

The four-year-old Xtravagant gelding won second-up and finished just outside the minor places in a Listed sprint at Flemington.

NADAL rounded out his preparations for The Supernova with a handy @KarakaChat jumpout this morning 👀

Replays of all of this morning's jumpouts can by found on https://t.co/rJfhjrhLVX.#SouthsideRacing#SthsideRacing#SouthsideIsTheBestSidepic.twitter.com/CqSOcPGxWO

— Southside Racing (@SthsideRacing) December 8, 2024

He launched from last in The Meteorite to win by 2¾ lengths hard held with a breathtaking last 200m under jockey Ethan Brown.

“You always like to be given confidence by the riders,” Turnbull said.

“Ethan, with the feel he had, and even off the screen (Nadal) was pretty impressive, but you’re taking advice from the riders and he was fairly impressed.”

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Turnbull has high hopes for Nadal in The Supernova but also in campaigns to come.

“Ciaron and I have said for a while he has been the best handicapped sprinter we had this spring,” Turnbull said.

“He’s a fast horse but he’s a better gelding and he got given time because he had soft knees and it all came at once (three-year-old season).

“He’s always threatened to do what he did at Cranbourne but until they do it, it’s only hearsay.”

Meanwhile, Mrs Chrissie will be aimed at either the Christmas Stakes (1100m) on Boxing Day at Caulfield or Listed Black Pearl (1100m) at Geelong on January 4.

Mrs Chrissie bolted in first-up under a hold last Saturday at Ballarat.

“Black type is the key. She’s (stakes) placed, but we need to get that win,” Turnbull said.

“I’d say for a mare, you’re either the Christmas Stakes or possibly the Black Pearl, but the Christmas Stakes being 1100 (metres) is ideal.”

Originally published as Ciaron Maher sprinter Nadal to spell after The Supernova before likely autumn return in Group 1 Oakleigh Plate