Breeding & Racing Magazine

Grand Nirvana Wins Belmont Sprint

Deceased former Durham Lodge stallion Scenic (Sadler's Wells-Idyllic, by Foolish Pleasure) added a group success when favoured & top-weighted 5YO gelding Grand Nirvana (Scenic-Paradise Park, by Bletchley Park) gained the judge’s decision in a 3-way photo-finish to the $125,000 Gr3 Belmont Sprint (1400m) at Belmont Park in Perth, to win this race for the 2nd successive year. Grand Nirvana (ridden by Daniel Staeck for trainer Fred Kersley) scored by a short-halfhead from 7YO gelding King Kool Kat (King Cugat-Affaire En Or, by Dieu D'Or) with a further head to fellow 7YO gelding Battle Emblem (Second Empire-Mississippi Belle, by Marooned). Grand Nirvana took his record to 9 wins (also including last start’s Gr3 Roma Cup over 1200m at Belmont Park on May 28, plus 2010’s Gr3 Belmont Sprint over 1400m at Belmont Park & Listed H.G.Bolton Sprint over 1200m at Belmont Park, plus 2009's Gr3 Roma Cup over 1200m at Belmont Park, Listed H.G.Bolton Stakes over 1200m at Belmont Park & Listed Belmont Guineas over 1600m, as well as 2008's Listed Fairetha Stakes over 1400m at Ascot & Listed Supremacy Stakes over 1100m at Ascot) & 7 placings (including 2010’s Gr3 Roma Cup over 1200m at Belmont Park, plus 2009's Gr3 Asian Beau Stakes over 1400m at Ascot & Gr3 R.J.Peters Stakes over 1500m at Ascot, as well as 2008's Gr2 Karrakatta Plate over 1200m at Ascot, Gr3 WA Sires' Produce Stakes over 1400m at Ascot & Listed Belgravia Stakes over 1200m at Ascot) from 30 starts for $897,600 earnings. (Click on the link for full race details from Group Race Results at AAP Racing.)