One To Watch - Geelong

Mark Smith - Friday August 14

The market suggested that the Mike Moroney-trained Bermadez would be hard to beat when making a belated career debut over 1250 metres at Geelong on Friday and he didn’t disappoint.

Given a rev-up by Damien Oliver from an outside barrier, Bermadez took up the running and it was plain sailing from there on.

Easy as you like - Bermadez romps on debut (Reg Ryan/Racing Photos)

After a gentle reminder coming around the turn, the son of Tavistock quickened impressively to put the race to bed allowing Oliver the luxury of throttling down over the final 50 metres in a five and a quarter length romp over Pitjara (Shooting To Win) with Pure Purgatory (Oratorio) a further length back in third.

The new season 4yo gelding was a $280,000 purchase by Paul Moroney Bloodstock out of the Inglewood Stud draft out of Book 1 at NZB Karaka Yearling Sale and races for a group of loyal stable clients including Rupert Legh.  

Inglewood had purchased Bermadez’s dam Pikea for just $12,000 at the 2012 Australian Weanling and Bloodstock Sale.

The<

Advertisement

/p>

daughter of Anabaa (USA) is a sister to the Group II Villiers Stakes winner Row Of Waves and a half-sister to Better Alternative (Flying Spur) the dam of the Group 1 Victoria Derby, Group 1 ATC BMW Stakes, Group 1 VRC Australian Cup and Group 1 Turnbull Stakes winner Preferment (Zabeel) and his Group III winning sister Rezoned.

Bermadez was a $280,000 Karaka yearling

Pikea’s dam Ancient lights (Canny Lad) is a six-time winning sister to the Group 1 VRC Salinger Stakes winner Ancient Song and a half-sister to the multiple stakes-winners Danzig Beau and Royal Lott.

At Karaka this year, Ribot Stud shelled out $70,000 for Inglewood Stud’s Pikea filly by Tivaci.

Pikea has a yearling full-sister to Bermadez from the penultimate crop of Tavistock and was covered last season by Inglewood Stud’s resident stallion War Decree (USA) a royally bred, Group II winning son of War Front.

Advertisment

Race Result - Elephant & Castle Hotel Mdn 1250m

Geelong Track: Soft(6) Time: 1:15.21
1
Bermadez
- 4g Tavistock (NZ) x Pikea (AUS) (Anabaa (USA))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: D Oliver 58.5
2
5.3
Pitjara
- 4m Shooting To Win (AUS) x Tambo's Jewel (AUS) (Oratorio (IRE))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Jamie Kah 56.5
3
6.3
Pure Purgatory
- 4m Oratorio (AUS) x Silver Sass (AUS) (Due Sasso (AUS))
Tnr: M M Laurie Rdr: D W Stackhouse 56.5
4
6.6
Vitosha
- 5m Helmet (AUS) x Mintenko (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: Mitchell Freedman Rdr: W Egan 56.5
5
7.4
Norah
- 4m All Too Hard (AUS) x Our Miss Jones (NZ) (Darci Brahma (NZ))
Tnr: M C Kent Rdr: Beau Mertens 56.5
6
8.4
Lady Fiorente
- 4m Fiorente (IRE) x Chaparral Lass (NZ) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: Ms D Loos Rdr: Ben Allen 56.5
7
10.1
Ella Isabella
- 4m Eurozone (AUS) x Ella Zabella (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: L & T Corstens Rdr: D Moor 56.5
8
10.9
Moncreek
- 5g Smart Missile (AUS) x Feminine Wiles (USA) (Miesque's Son (USA))
Tnr: Jarrod Robinson Rdr: R Mc Leod 58.5
9
13.4
Alice Band
- 6m Helmet (AUS) x Short 'n' Sweep (AUS) (End Sweep (USA))
Tnr: Paul McKenna Rdr: Dean Holland 56.5
10
23.4
Krishna Cove
- 4m Dark Cove (USA) x She's A Tycoon (AUS) (Written Tycoon (AUS))
Tnr: Chris Calthorpe Rdr: Jack Martin 56.5
More Reading...
Anamoe breeding right among extraordinarily strong Inglis Feb (Late) catalogue
A breeding right in first season sire sensation Anamoe, multiple Stakes horses and young mares with highly desirable pregnancies are just some of the highlights of one of the strongest Inglis Digital catalogues ever assembled.
Records Tumble as Gingerbread Man Colt Tops Book Two
A colt by leading local sire Gingerbread Man topped Book Two when selling for $190,0000 as the 2026 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale rounded out with record breaking results.
Super Seth Filly Adds to Te Akau NZB Kiwi Contenders
Te Akau Racing strengthened their representation in next month’s $4 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) following the announcement of their Group One winner La Dorada as ‘The People’s Horse’.
MRC Foundation pledges more than $50,000 to support Victorian bushfire recovery
The MRC Foundation will contribute more than $50,000 in direct financial and practical support to bushfire-affected communities across northeast Victoria, as regional racing families begin the long road to recovery following the recent Longwood fires.
The Real Diamonds in a Rhinestone World
It's hard to be a diamond in a rhinestone world -   Dolly Parton - Who is the authentic juvenile gem and who are the cut-glass pretenders in the 2026 G1 Blue Diamond Stakes field? 
Karaka Graduate Bermadez in Winning Form at Flemignton
The Mike Moroney-trained Bermadez was back in the winner’s circle for the first time since May 2022 with a hard-fought victory in the Howden Australian Guineas Day, 2 March (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Breeding To Win - 2026 G1 Blue Diamond Stakes
The late withdrawal on Friday morning of unbeaten Bivouac colt Big Sky from the $2million Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) has taken a key contender from the mix, but with a full field of 16 it's a race packed with intrigue.
Unbeaten Run Continues as Aristopolos Wins Gold Sovereign
Taking his record to five from five, outstanding St Mark’s Basilica (FR) colt Aristopolos gave nothing else a chance in Friday night’s Listed Gold Sovereign Stakes (1200m) at Launceston with John Blacker trained 2yo pulling clear to win by two lengths.
Embellish Filly Wins Listed Tasmanian Oaks
Coming off a last start maiden victory over 1717m at Sale, the Phillip Stokes trained 3yo Embellish (NZ) filly Kazaru (NZ) proved the superior stayer at Launceston on Friday night, winning the Listed Tasmania Oaks (2100m) for OTI Racing.
Waters awarded 2026 Sunline Trust International Management Scholarship
Niamh Waters has been announced as the 2026 recipient of the Sunline Trust International Management Scholarship and will depart on Saturday to begin her 30-week international experience.