NEWCASTLE sprinter Brudenell’s dash to Queensland to chase a first-up victory has been put on hold for a week.
The talented four-year-old was floated to trainer Kris Lees’ Gold Coast base overnight on Thursday and then to Caloundra on Saturday to resume in the Open Plate (1000m).
However, only four races were able to be run at the Sunshine Coast metropolitan meeting before the program was called off just prior to his scheduled event.
Because of the washout, the Open Plate has been re-programmed for Sunday along with other features in which Lees had acceptors – the $300,000 Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m) and $300,000 Listed Glasshouse Handicap (1400m).
“Brudenell will stay at our Gold Coast stable, and run at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday,” stable spokesman Danny Greer said on Monday morning.
An $80,000 Inglis Classic yearling sale buy in 2021, Brudenell has earned nearly $700,000 and his win rate record is nearly as impressive as his sire, dual Group 1 winner Russian Revolution.
Whereas the latter won seven of his 11 starts before beginning stud duties, Brudenell boasts a pretty tidy resume of his own.
He has won nine of his 18 starts – including victories in New South Wales and Victoria – but wasn’t quite up to matching Russian Revolution’s 2018 Group 1 Oakleigh Plate triumph when he finished a close fifth in this year’s renewal in February.
As with Brudenell’s resumption being put on hold for a week, so has stablemate Willinga Beast’s retirement to stud.
The Glasshouse most likely will be her final start as she attempts to add another black type success to her recent Listed 1200m victory at Eagle Farm, along with three Group 2 placings.
The Caloundra Cup transfer may now lead to Lees’ pair Luncies and Point King being absentees from Thursday week’s Grafton Cup.
Lees withdrew the stablemates from the scheduled $300,000 Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m) last Saturday when the track was a ‘Heavy 9” and downgraded to a ‘Heavy 10 before the opening race, planning to instead focus on the $200,000 Listed Grafton Cup (2350m).
However, fresh nominations have been called for the revamped Sunshine Coast meeting, and they will be amongst the entries.
With nominations closing on Tuesday, Luncies and Point King will be amongst the Caloundra Cup entries.
“Provided the track improves at the Sunshine Coast, they will line up,” Danny Greer said.
“We will most likely also nominate both for the Grafton Cup as a precaution, but at this stage the Caloundra Cup is our preference.”
. Lees’ former gun apprentice Dylan Gibbons is enjoying a European holiday with partner Nevada Mansfield before beginning his senior riding career on his return later this month.
“Dylan had to miss Rachel King’s wedding in the UK last month as he had a Group 1 booking for Semana (who ran second to stablemate Bella Nipotina) in the Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 29,” the 22-year-old’s father and fellow jockey Andrew said.
“They are visiting a few countries, and currently in England where they have just seen the British F1 Grand Prix at Silverstone.
“Dylan needed a break and no doubt will be refreshed when he returns on July 24 to begin a new season.”
Dylan Gibbons rode 389 winners (126 of them for Lees) during an outstanding apprenticeship which began on July 28, 2020 at Taree.
He has already achieved two Group 1 victories, both on roughies; Explosive Jack ($26) for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace in last year’s Sydney Cup (3200m) at Royal Randwick, and Lees’ Kalapour ($31) in the Tancred Stakes (2400m) at Rosehill Gardens in March.
Story John Curtis, July 8, 2024 - Pics Bradley Photos
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