Written by Richard Edmunds
Brandenburg (NZ) (Burgundy {NZ}) upstaged a stellar line-up of 3-year-olds at Rosehill on Saturday, scoring a shock 40-to-one victory in the G2 Arrowfield Hobartville S.
The John Sargent-trained colt had been completely overlooked in the build-up to the $400,000 feature, with all eyes on the big guns in a star-studded field.
There was Microphone (Exceed and Excel), champion 2-year-old colt of last season and an impressive last-start winner of the G2 Autumn S. Castelvecchio (Dundeel {NZ}) was a Group 1 winner last season, and he ran a huge race for second in the Cox Plate in his most recent appearance. Kubrick (Shooting to Win) has also shown huge talent in his short career to date, while Shadow Hero (Pierro), Warning (Declaration of War {USA}) and Prince Fawaz (Fastnet Rock) are all Group 1 winners. But on Saturday Brandenburg beat them all.
Microphone was the warm favourite at $2.25, and he exploded out of the starting gate to take a clear lead within the first 50 metres of the race. With Hugh Bowman in the saddle, he seemed set to dominate from the front. But Rachel King and Brandenburg had other ideas.
Brandenburg had worked forward out wide to sit second behind Microphone, then edged closer to him coming up to the home turn.
Brandenburg (NZ) on his way to victory
King went for gold in the straight, and Brandenburg quickly loomed up on Microphone’s outside. The favourite tried to fight back, but Brandenburg kept coming and gradually got up the upper hand.
Brandenburg edged clear over the last 150 metres, getting up to win by half a length. Reloaded (Snitzel) snatched second right on the line in a photo finish with Microphone.
“When he actually learns how to really put them away, he's going to be even better,” King said.
“When he actually learns how to really put them away, he's going to be even better.'' - Rachel King
“John made sure I knew the horse really well. I rode him a few times in trackwork and left no stone unturned and it paid off.”
Carrying the colours of Seymour Bloodstock, Brandenburg has now had eight starts for two wins, six placings and $418,400 in stakes.
He was bred in New Zealand by Christopher Grace and is a half-brother to Sargent’s multiple Group winner and Group 1 placegetter Luvaluva (NZ) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}).
Saturday was Brandenburg’s first stakes win, having previously finished second in the G2 Stan Fox S. and G3 Carbine Club S.
“I’ve always rated him a very good colt,” Sargent said. “We looked after him in the spring and just took him down to Melbourne for the Carbine Club.
“He had to front up today against these serious horses and he did. It was very impressive. He's got a very good attitude and that's what makes the horse. He just eats and sleeps.”
John Sargent
Sargent indicated that the G1 Randwick Guineas on March 7 is Brandenburg’s likely next target.
As for the beaten favourite Microphone, Bowman believes he was simply beaten by a better horse on the day.
“All credit to the winner,” he said. “My guy was strong late, but I thought the race was his for the taking at the top of the straight.”
Microphone
Shadow Hero, Castelvecchio and Warning warmed into their work in good style late in Saturday’s 1400-metre race and finished fifth, sixth and seventh respectively.
"He's a stronger horse this prep,” said Shadow Hero’s jockey, Josh Parr. “It was a really good effort to come from near the back of the field in a speed-dominated race.”
Castelvecchio’s rider Kerrin McEvoy was also more than satisfied with his mount’s performance.
“It was short of his best trip, but I love the way he got balanced up and powered through the last two furlongs,” he said. “It was a good first run back.”
