Written by Paul Vettise
Ideas Man (Brazen Beau) showed he had inherited a good measure of the family ability when he made the perfect start to his career and earn posthumous honours for his dam.
The expensive colt showed an early return on his investment when he hit the line powerfully under jockey Mark Zahra to win the Restricted Listed Inglis Banner at The Valley for trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace.
The son of the late Innovation Girl (Rubiton) was the highest-priced youngster in the field, having cost $575,000 when purchased out of Blue Gum Farm’s Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale draft. He was bred by Des Pope, who has remained in the ownership.
“He’s looking very cheap now. We had one out of Innovation Girl called Chloe In Paris and she was a top line horse,” Maher said.
“Unfortunately, the mare passed away last week and this is the last one out of her.”
“Unfortunately, the mare passed away last week and this is the last one out of her.” – Ciaron Maher
Innovation Girl was a quality mare and won 10 races, including the G2 Ascot Vale S. and three Group 3 contests. Her daughter Chloe In Paris (Exceed And Excel) won the Listed Bob Hoysted S. and she also produced the Group performer The Original (Dehere {USA}).
Ideas Man as a yearling
“He really looks the part this horse and he had to do everything right to get here,” Maher said. “We trialled on Monday and he was bit new and a bit green, but I thought that would bring him on.
“He stepped a little slowly, but it was a beautiful ride by Mark and he had a lot of confidence in the horse.
“He’s done a great job for the team and we’ve got a lot of 2-year-old this year and we’ve put a lot of emphasis on it so it’s really satisfying.” – Ciaron Maher
“He’s done a great job for the team and we’ve got a lot of 2-year-old this year and we’ve put a lot of emphasis on it so it’s really satisfying.
“He’s a very straight forward horse, very strong and his mother was a good 2-year-old and he is as well.”
Ideas Man was a touch slowly into stride before he mustered pace along the fence and was in behind the leaders turning for home.
Once Zahra got the colt into clear air, he produced an electric finish to win going away at the first time of asking.
Mark Zahra aboard Ideas Man
“We had a nice run and he did it well, he needed a break in the straight and got it. He’s been well-educated by Ciaron and David, they’ve done a great job with him,” Zahra said.
Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai) boxed on well from fourth in the running to take second ahead of Arctic Ice (Brazen Beau), who came from last with an eye-catching finish, and Encountabull (Bull Point) was next best.
The previously unbeaten Mildred (Hinchinbrook) was in front on the turn, but she had no answer when the challenges came and she dropped out to beat three home.
