Nadal emerges as future Group 1 sprinter with spectacular win in The Meteorite for Ciaron Maher at Cranbourne

Exciting sprinter Nadal showed his Group 1 potential with a blistering win in The Meteorite at Cranbourne on Saturday.

Nadal rockets home to win The Meteorite at Cranbourne. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

The Cranbourne Racing Club might have found the perfect race name when calling its new $1m sprint The Meteorite.

It looked the case when the Ciaron Maher-trained Nadal unleashed a brilliant sprint to win the inaugural running of Victoria’s first slot race.

Nadal went from seeking clear air near the tail of the field on the home turn to end the race as a contest in the space of 100m.

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Jockey Ethan Brown was able to ease off on the sprinter in the last 75m but Nadal still had 2¾ lengths to spare over smart gallopers Rey Magnerio ($6) and Baraqiel ($3 fav).

Brown said the way the Cranbourne course had favoured on-pace runners earlier in the day was a slight concern given Nadal drew barrier 10.

However, he said a strong early speed helped Nadal quickly reel in the leaders.

“The track’s been a bit on-speed, so maybe a few connections had the same idea and it worked in our favour,” Brown said.

“They started fanning around the corner and I thought we can’t loop them.

“So, I gave him a click, he was right there for me, a gap presented and off he went.

“That was a good win.”

GAME, SET AND MATCH! 🎾

NADAL SWAMPS OVER THE TOP OF THEM IN THE METEORITE! ☄️@[e-mail]/TP7yoqSQrU

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) November 23, 2024

Nadal justified Maher’s decision to select him as Ciaron Maher Racing’s representative in The Meteorite despite the son of Xtravagant’s luckless last-start fourth at Listed level at Flemington.

Maher and previous training partner David Eustace thought enough of Nadal to try him at Group 1 level as a three-year-old last spring.

The sprinter’s connections made the tough choice to geld Nadal after those outings.

Maher’s representative Adrian Joyce said Nadal had matured into an exciting performer.

“He came back in this prep, a different horse, stronger, moving really well and he’s just kept improving,” Joyce said.

We’ve always had a lot of faith in him.

“He’s a really nice horse and a beautiful individual as well.”

The manner of Nadal’s win indicated Group 1 races like the Oakleigh Plate and Newmarket Handicap might not be beyond him in the autumn.

Brown said Maher would give Nadal every chance to reach the highest level next year.

“He’s very talented and he’s in the right stable,” Brown said.

“They’ll put him through his grades and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him in a stakes race and the horses he beat there then, it just puts the writing on the wall, doesn’t it?

“The feeling he gave me was terrific, and I’d like to stay on his back.”