Justify gelding Ndola breaks through in Santa Ana Lane Final
Another Coolmore stallion on the stakes scoresheet during Flemington’s Finals Day was Justify (Scat Daddy), whose gelded son Ndola rewarded connections’ long-held belief with a maiden black type win in the Santa Ana Lane Sprint Series Final (Listed, 1200m).
Resuming from a spell, the four-year-old made every post a winning one under Jye McNeil, showing his customary speed before holding off late challengers to score by 0.2 lengths over Lingani (America). De Bergerac (Zoustar) finished another half-length back in third.
The victory took Ndola’s record to seven wins and seven placings from 18 starts and pushed his earnings beyond $660,000.
Will Hayes, who trains in partnership with brothers Ben and JD, said the stable had always believed the gelding possessed stakes-winning ability and was pleased to see him deliver first-up.
“He’s been very straight forward and it’s such a thrill to get a winner here at Flemington in the Devitt and Gordon colours as they have been such good supporters of the stable for a very long time,” Hayes said.
“He’s gone from strength to strength and has improved again off his last preparation and to sprint so well fresh he’s in for another good preparation.
“He enjoyed a nice break in the paddock and time has been his friend. He’s built up nicely and with time and maturity has gone to another level.”
A homebred for Peter Devitt and partners, Ndola is the third foal out of Group 3-winning sprinter Hear The Chant (Nicconi), herself a homebred for the same connections.
The mare has made a bright start at stud with each of her first three runners being winners, headed by Ndola and fellow Listed scorer Herecomesthestar (Zoustar).
Hear The Chant has two unraced fillies by Shamus Award (Snitzel) named Dequindre and Chantess, while her yearling colt by Blue Point (Shamardal) sold for $100,000 at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale in March.
After missing in 2024, she returned to Coolmore last spring to visit champion first-season sire elect Home Affairs (I Am Invincible).
Ndola became the 63rd individual stakes winner worldwide for Justify, whose influence continues to expand in Australia.
The US Triple Crown winner, who commanded a fee of US$200,000 (approx. AU$288,140) at Ashford Stud in 2026, will be represented on the Coolmore Australia roster this spring through his sons City Of Troy, the 2024 European Horse of the Year, and Group-winning juvenile Storm Boy.