Cover image courtesy of Racing Photos
Croatian Belle (Brazen Beau) emerged as a candidate for the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic when she cruised to an eye-catching debut victory at The Valley on Friday night and also handed her Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale-bound half-sister with a timely update.
Trained by Lindsay Park and ridden by Jamie Kah, the daughter of Brazen Beau, who sported the famous Dulcify (Decies {GB}) colours, was slow to begin, but settled well and then produced a potent turn of foot in the straight to saunter clear to beat Beauty Rising (Deep Field) by an emphatic 2.25l. Angelique (Harry Angel {Ire}), who was seen breaking her maiden at Morphettville on December 10, came home in third.
Bred by Gerry Harvey, the daughter of Darley’s Brazen Beau was bought by her trainers for $130,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the Baramul Stud draft earlier this year and being raced by an all-female syndicate headed by Ben Hayes’ partner Grace Ramage, she is eligible to chase the lucrative $325,000 female bonus on the Gold Coast on January 14.
Co-trainer Ben Hayes said he was delighted to see Croatian Belle produce such an authoritative debut performance on Friday, especially considering she appeared a little reluctant to leave the barriers.
“She did a lot wrong; she didn’t jump clean, but it was a 10/10 ride from Jamie (Kah), she didn’t panic and somehow she ended up, one off, one back in a beautiful position and got her into the race at the right time to win very impressively,” said Hayes.
“She (Croatian Belle) did a lot wrong; she didn’t jump clean, but it was a 10/10 ride from Jamie (Kah), she didn’t panic and somehow she ended up, one off, one back in a beautiful position and got her into the race at the right time to win very impressively.” - Ben Hayes
“It was nice to see her win so well. All her trials have been really good, they’ve been pass marks and she has shown good speed, but today (Friday) she impressed me because she missed the start, then relaxed and was really strong through the line. It was better than I was expecting.”
Should the filly head to the Gold Coast next month, Ben and JD Hayes will be pursuing their second female bonus of the season, having already saddled Arkansaw Kid (Harry Angel {Ire}) to victory in the $500,000 R. Listed Inglis Banner at Moonee Valley and collected the $200,000 Pink Lady bonus in the process.
“I think the girls will have a lot of fun with her going forward, so it’s a big thrill. It was an aim of ours to get a couple of Ladies’ Syndicates together and this horse is hopefully now headed for the Magic Millions vying for the big ladies bonus.”
Connections of Croatian Belle celebrate after her win at Moonee Valley | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Croatian Belle herself is out of the placed mare Croatian (High Chaparral {Ire}) and she is herself a daughter of the dual-winning More Than Ready (USA) mare Pregrada, who also produced Group 3 runner-up A Man To Match (High Chaparral {Ire}).
The filly’s third dam is the Listed winner Dansino (Danehill {USA}) and she is herself a half-sister to G1 Australasian Oaks winner Leica Smile (At Talaq {USA}).
Harvey’s Baramul Stud will offer Croatian Belle’s Exceedance half-sister during Book 2 of next month’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. She is catalogued as Lot 1066.
Brazen Beau | Standing at Darley
Croatian Belle becomes the 29th juvenile winner in Australia for Brazen Beau, who stood at Darley’s Kelvinside base for $44,000 (inc GST) in 2022 and he has 10 lots set to go under the hammer at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, which gets underway on January 10.
