Who is US Ranger?

The Group III MRC Vain Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday was arguably the most interesting race on Saturday with victory going to a three year-old heralded by his trainer as the best horse he's had, but by a sire that had commentators scratching their heads, US Ranger?.

Astute Adelaide trainer Lloyd Kennewell is not one given to making big statements, so when he says Get the Nod is the 'best horse I've had', you're inclined to believe him.

An easy debut winner at Morphettville back in March, Get the Nod was spelled immediately with spring in mind and after watching him win on Saturday it's not hard to see why connections have him entered for the Caulfield Guineas and Cox Plate.

He jumped smartly from an outside gate for Joe Bowditch and settled just behind the leaders in fourth position. Allowed to balance up after turning for home, Get the Nod quickly let down with a swift change of pace to charge clear and win by a length and a quarter.

"He's the best horse I've had, he's an absolute star," Kennewell revealed.

"He's as good as we've had, as good as we've got and we've known that for a long time. That's why we put him away straight after he won his first race."

Named for the Midnight Oil song US Forces, which features the opening line 'US Forces give the nod', Get the Nod has now won two from two with prizemoney of $109,250, not a bad return for a horse purchased by his trainer for $18,000 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale Summer Book.

"He is a serious horse. I knew he was going to be right there coming to the turn, but he just wobbled around it," Kennewell added.

"Once he gathered his legs again he was away."

Bred and consigned for sale by Mike Becker's Independent Stallions, Get the Nod is the first foal of Silent Cash, an unplaced half-sister by Secret Savings (USA) to Group II placed Silent But Deadly from the family of Victoria Derby winner King's High.

Silent Cash has a two year-old filly by Artie Schiller (USA) that made $23,000 at the Inglis Vobis Gold Sale Yearling Sale earlier this year and a yearling filly by Al Samer. She is due to foal to Sepoy's half-brother Mulaazem.

Get the Nod is the first Australian stakes-winner and is in fact the only winner to date from the one and only small crop of 34 foals sired by US Ranger (USA), a stakes-winning sprinter by Danzig that shuttled briefly to Independent Stallions at a fee of $11,000.

A brilliant sprinter that was Group I placed in the July Cup and Prix de La Foret, US Ranger stands in Kentucky at WinStar Farm at a fee of $5,000. His Northern Hemisphere progeny are headed by Group III winner Solitary Ranger.