We kicked off the New Year with a bang as our 6yo stable stalwart recorded a terrific victory at Ipswich in the Benchmark 70 over 2000m.
Coming off the back of a gritty win at the Gold Coast, he was asked to step up in distance and carried the top weight, lumping 60.5kg. Brandon Lerena stayed aboard and from the machines he jumped cleanly, finding a position in the leading division through the first 200m. He then settled just behind the leader in a race that lacked tempo early.
He travelled comfortably through the middle stages until the race changed complexion at the 800m, when a runner surged around the field to take up the lead, with several others improving sharply around the outside. In the space of moments the tempo went from pedestrian to genuine, leaving him momentarily flat footed and shuffled back to last approaching the home turn.
In the straight, Brandon nursed him back through his gears, where he balanced up strongly, found the front late and out-toughed his key rival to draw away for a narrow but courageous victory.
Trainer Mathew Dunn summed up the performance perfectly:
“It was a determined win. I know it was only a small margin, but the way he did it was very, very impressive. He couldn’t have done any more. Things didn’t really go to plan, but he was good enough to get himself out of trouble.”
That win brought up his sixth career victory and his second in succession from 22 starts, along with six minor placings. He may not win by big margins, but he is a genuine, tough horse who gives his all every time he steps out. His earnings now sit at $124,500 and he is in a real purple patch of form.
While his owners have had to be patient, he now looks ready to progress to metropolitan grade at his next start, where he is more than deserving of another win.