Nault Wins First 2-Year-Old Race of the Season

Groom Charlotte Johnston with the first 2-year-old winner of the season at ASD, Silver Jaguar, in trainer Mike Nault's barn. (George Williams photo)

The Inside Track | Issue #87
At the Post By G.S. Thompson

Trainers Mike Nault and Devon Gittens won the first 2-year-old races of the meet on Tuesday, Jerry Gourneau opened a big lead in the trainer standings, and a new apprentice from B.C. made a notable appearance in another week of million-dollar-plus handles.

Nault won the Ardell Sayler Memorial, the first 2-year-old race of the year on Tuesday night, with Manitoba-bred Silver Jaguar (Nonios-San Diego Nights), for a large ownership group that includes Garry Naherniak, Dayman Gullas, Rheanne Gray, Dave Ledoux and A2 Thoroughbreds. Bred by Vailla Kay Butler, the nice moving bay gelding was bought privately after the CTHS Manitoba Yearling Sale last year after a final bid of $6,500.

Groomed by Charlotte Johnston and ridden by Chavion Chow, Silver Jaguar showed good character to win by a neck over fellow Manitoba-bred Justlemmeatem (Vengeful Wildcat), conditioned by Devon Gittens for owner/breeder Dr. Betty Hughes. Justlemmeatem was bid up to $3,500 at the yearling sale before being bought back by Hughes.

Both horses could turn out to be bargains.

Silver Jaguar wins the first 2-year-old race of the season on Tuesday, the Ardell Sayler Memorial, for trainer Mike Nault and ownership partners Garry Naherniak, Dayman Gullas, Rheanne Gray, Dave Ledoux and A2 Thoroughbreds. (Jason Halstead photo)