Namerik Thoroughbreds owner Alan Bansemer followed a successful formula to breed a winning double at Ascot on Wednesday with Poblano (Vert De Grece) and Flinders Lane (Patronize).
Bansemer is a firm believer in that famed advertising slogan, “when you’re on a good thing, stick to it” as both mares come from families that have been mainstays at his farm in Serpentine.
Poblano (4m Vert De Grece – Touched by Scandal Keeper) was a front-running Pinjarra maiden winner at her second start on New Year’s Eve and she went right on with the job with another on-pace victory in the Quayclean Hcp (1200m) yesterday.
Winning jockey Willie Pike made it two from two on the grey mare after she tracked the leader Diamonds’n’rubies (Maschino) and then knuckled down to deny the late challenge of Monte Tremezzo (Hellbent) to score by a half-length.
Trainer Jason Miller prepares Poblano (Photo / Western Racepix) for his wife Sarah and Bansemer and believes there’s more wins to come when she returns later this year. “I first saw her down at Alan’s farm twelve months ago,” Miller recalled.
“She wasn’t much to look at and I only took her on because Alan is such a strong supporter of our stable.
“I will wait for the dust to settle but I might send her to the paddock because this is only her first real prep. She’s got a big motor and only knows how to give 100%.”
Poblano is by former Geisel Park sire Vert de Grece (Verglas) and she’s the first foal from Touched who was an Ascot winner for Bansemer and trainer Brett Pope. It’s a Namerik pedigree going to back four removes to Bavarde Royale (Sovereign Slipper) who foaled 7 winners topped by Group 1 filly Aphasia (Orojoya).
Flinders Lane boosted her residual value with a second city victory in the Unite Resourcing Hcp (2200m) at Ascot on Wednesday. Based at Ascot with former Esperance-based trainer Josh Brown, she had won a Bay Of Isles maiden twelve months ago and broke through in town at Belmont last month.
Flinders Lane (5m Patronize – Comme Ci by Verglas) is one of seven winners from Namerik mare Comme Ci and three of them have earned black-type headlined by Admiration Express (My Admiration) with Group 3 victories in the 2022 Champion Fillies Stakes (1600m) and 2025 Strickland Stakes (2000m).
Admiration Express is trained by Jason Miller and she was also runner-up at Group 1 level in the 2024 Northerly Stakes (1800m) and was last seen finishing third in the G3 La Trice Classic (1800m) on New Year’s Day.
Brown and his partner Chelsi Forder bought a bargain when they paid just $8,000 for Flinders Lane at an Inglis Online Sale in August 2025. She was initially sold for $85,000 by Namerik at the 2022 Perth Magic Millions.
“We have a soft spot for this mare and she means a fair bit to us,” Brown said after a convincing victory over Modelistic (Playing God) and Pony Up (Dirty Work). “She didn’t cost a lot of money and it’s very pleasing to see her stay over 2200m.
“After that Belmont win last month, she was ready for 1800m but that meeting was called off so we had to go back to a mile at Bunbury. I told Willie (Pike) is was a big jump to 2200m but you don’t need to worry with Willie on board and he made the right call in running.”
Comme Ci has a 2yo grey filly by Splintex and a weanling colt by Playing God. Alan Bansemer tapped into the family when paying $20,000 for second-dam Residual (Zeditave) at the 1999 Magic Millions National Sale.
