Nevvay put it all together to clinch his first group 3 on Sunday when triumphing in the Lonsdale Stirrup Cup, with stable companion Thundering Jet running a much improved race to finish a close up third.

The well bred son of Western Winter has thrived since his arrival in Natal. His prep run over a mile at Scottsville two weeks prior was somewhat surprising considering his lengthy layoff, and to follow this up with another super win here is indicative that he has reached the potential we always thought he was capable of.

He was a spindly and gangly colt when he first came in, but with patience and a purple pedigree he was destined to improve with time which was the way we always read him, and it was really rewarding to see him pull through with this victory.

Nevvay is the first foal of his dam Enchantress, which we trained - She was an 8 time winner and Equus Champion older female including the Gr1 SA Fillies sprint and was group placed a further 5 times. His full sister Naledi, is a lightly raced one time winner at this early stage and is also in training with us.

‘Everything in the race panned out perfectly and he won a really game race today” said jockey Anton Marcus.

Mike engaged Anton despite carrying a kilo extra, as he was unable to waste, suffering from a bout of flu in the morning.

“I thought I would rather have Anton a kilo over than anyone else’ said Mike “He rode a top race and things panned out really well for him.  “Nevvay certainly deserved to win this race and I hope to be able to pick up few more features with him along the way”

Nevvay is owned by Markus Jooste and partners Messrs A P de Villiers, J Hoffman, J D V du Toit and J F Mouton and was bred by Mike and Norma Rattray’s Lammerskraal Stud.

Thundering Jet ran a much improved race to finish third which is a firm indication that he is far more suited to the staying trip. Diamond Quest looks to be slowly but surely regaining his prior South African form and ran an outstanding race to finish just 3 and a half lengths back after taking a more difficult route home.

At this stage, we will more than likely nominate Nevvay for the Gr3 Campanajo 2200 on July day.