Nom Du Jeu on Track for Cups

5th September 2008

Group One AJC Australian Derby winner Nom du Jeu (4h Montjeu x Prized Gem, by Prized) resumed from a spell at Te Rapa on Friday and strolled clear for an easy victory in the open event over 1400 metres.

The four year-old son of Montjeu was having his first start since finishing second in the Group One AJC Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick on May 3 and looks to have come back in great order for Kiwi trainer Murray Baker.

Nom du Jeu’s overall record stands at five wins and four placings from 13 starts with prizemoney of $1.4 million and he has 54 kg in the Melbourne Cup.

Nom Du Jeu is one of 51 stakes-winners (10 of them Group One) worldwide for champion sire Montjeu, who shuttled to Windsor Park Stud in New Zealand for four seasons but is now permanently based at Coolmore Ireland where he commands a fee of 125,000 euros.

Nom Du Jeu was retained to race by his breeder Mrs Billie Morton, who also enjoyed much success with the colt’s dam Prized Gem, also trained by Murray Baker.

A dual Group One winner of the Kelt Capital Stakes and QTC Brisbane Cup, Prized Gem won nine races and over $1million in prizemoney and Nom Du Jeu is her very first foal.