Nathaniel’s run of Stakes success in May continued with Spirit Ridge getting back to winning ways and landing the Gr.3 JRA Chairman’s Handicap over 2000m at Domain in Australia today.

The winner of the Gr.3 ATC Summer Cup, Gr.3 BRC Premier’s Cup and Listed ATC January Cup, when trained by Mark Newnham, Spirit Ridge has also had a run of placings for current trainer Annabel Neasham, including seconds in the Gr.1 The Metropolitan, Gr.3 Tatts Cup and Gr.3 Newcastle Cup.

The tough and consistent nine-year-old is usually accustomed to a leading role in his races, however, jockey James McDonald elected to sit in behind allowing the son of Nathaniel to get into a lovely rhythm.

“Full credit to the horse. He just keeps going well,” said stable representative Todd Pollard.

Since arriving in Australia, Spirit Ridge has won or been placed in an impressive tally of 13 Stakes races for his owners syndicate SG Darby, GTL Bowman et al.

He was bred by Juddmonte Farms and is out of the multiple Gr.1 winning mare Tates Creek (Rahy), half-sister to 7-time Gr.1 winner Sightseek from the family of Task Force, Elegant Verse and Special Duty. He sold to De Burgh Equine/Darby Racing for 100,000gns at the Tattersalls Autumn HIT sales in 2019.

So far in May this year, Nathaniel has also sired Listed winners You Got To Me and Understated, as well as Gr.3 second Alleno.