Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Written by Richard Edmunds
Two years on from a starring role in the Riverside Stables sale ring, Midland (Brazen Beau) has stolen the show again – this time on the racetrack in Saturday’s $300,000 R. Listed Inglis 3YO Guineas at Rosehill.
Midland was the Sale-topper in the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale in February of 2019, where he was offered by Murrulla Stud and sold to Bruce Perry Bloodstock for $550,000.
Midland as a yearling
Raced by Perry in a partnership that also features major Kiwi players Lib Petagna, Jomara Bloodstock, James Chapman and Waikato Stud’s Garry and Mark Chittick, Midland was sent to Newcastle trainer Kris Lees and showed early promise with a win and three placings from his first six starts last year.
He was then gelded and has made giant strides since returning for a new preparation, beginning with a win at Wyong on March 9 and a repeat result at Warwick Farm in late April.
Midland was thrown in at the deep end on Saturday against a field that featured the likes of Inglis Millennium winner and multiple big-race placegetter Prime Star (Starspangledbanner), but he rose to the occasion in style.
Ridden by Brenton Avdulla, Midland raced in third place before cruising forward outside the leaders and hitting the front 350 metres from the finish.
He was challenged late in the race by Nicci’s Fling (Nicconi) and Exoboom (Exosphere), but Midland had plenty up his sleeve and held them out comfortably by 0.75l.
“Full credit to Kris and the team at home – he’s a horse who’s progressively getting better and better,” Avdulla said. “They took the decision to cut (geld) him.
“First-up in this preparation, I felt like he won well but was still holding back on me a little bit. But then he won very well the other day and his attitude was really good, and today it was even better. So he’s starting to work out this racing game.
“He’s got a great attitude, so he’s working with you, and now the results are speaking for themselves.”
“He’s (Midland) got a great attitude, so he’s working with you, and now the results are speaking for themselves.” - Brenton Avdulla
Midland has now had nine starts for four wins, three placings and $245,215 in stakes, with the promise of more to come.
“He was an expensive yearling and he was a really nice horse from day one,” Lees said. “But we made the decision to geld him at the end of last preparation and he has come back a really good horse.
“He was just a touch immature. He is a lovely looking horse, but mentally he wasn’t all there, and sometimes the gelding trick makes the difference with them. I think we’re going to have a bit of fun with him.”
Midland | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
He has added to a successful season for Brazen Beau, who will stand for a 2021 service fee of $49,500 (inc GST) at Darley in Victoria.
The son of I Am Invincible has sired 94 winners since August 1, five of them at black-type level including star New Zealand 2-year-old On The Bubbles, who won the G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce S. and the R. Listed Karaka Million, while Pretty Brazen won the G2 Let’s Elope S. and placed in the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S.
North Pacific won the G3 Up & Coming H. and placed in the G1 Golden Rose before retiring to stand at Newgate Farm, while General Beau took out the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude (Colts and Geldings) and Listed Blue Diamond Preview (Colts and Geldings).
