Nuimara Farm studmaster Keith Reeves struck for the second time this month when Six Shooter (Shooting To Win) won the Reliable Asset Maiden (1200m) at Belmont on Wednesday.
The Boyanup horseman and owner-breeders Barry and Jan McRostie had been in the frame with another 3yo maiden winner named The Merryman (Epaulette) at Northam on October 6. The Darley-sired double followed a successful run for Reeves earlier this season courtesy of Bondi Bay (Bondi), Argyle Star (Blackfriars) and Jiddo (God Has Spoken).
Bondi Bay made $42,500 out of the Nuimara consignment to the 2023 Perth Magic Millions and banked $130,000 during a winter prep for part-owner and trainer Sharon Miller. He was bred and sold by Reeves and will be racing second-up in the LR Belgravia Stakes (1200m) at Ascot this Saturday.
Six Shooter (Photo / Western Racepix) and The Merryman were also part of last year’s Nuimara draft as agent for the McRosties but the pair were passed-in after failing to reach reserves of $60,000 and $80,000 respectively.
They bred Six Shooter after booking their multiple black-type winning mare Caipirinha (Nicconi) into current Oakland Park resident Shooting To Win (Northern Meteor) when he stood at Darley in the Hunter Valley.
Six Shooter was facing the starter for just the second time on Wednesday following an unlucky debut at Bunbury a fortnight ago. “He was awkward away and was caught deep first-up but he kept battling that day,” trainer Michael Lane explained. “He rolled forward for Chris (Parnham) today and will be a much better horse next prep.
“Thanks to Keith Reeves at Nuimara. He’s been agisting Barry and Jan’s horses down there for many years and does a great job. He asked me to come down and pick one out and looks like I got it right.”
The Merryman was also retained and he won on debut when sent to the Avon Valley by trainer Simon Miller. He’s by former Darley stallion Epaulette (Commands) who shuttled for five seasons before ending up in Turkey.
His dam Merriest (Denman) won a LR Atlantic Jewel Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley and her half-sister Festivity (Nicconi) foaled this year’s G3 ATC Triscay Stakes (1300m) winner Semana (Winning Rupert).
