A ground-saving ride by Brenton Avdulla resulted in the John O’Shea-trained Berdibek (FR) coming from second last on the turn to land Thursday’s Listed Pioneer Services Rowley Mile (1600m) at Hawkesbury.
It was the first stakes success for the 7yo son of Dark Angel, who defeated Kukeracha (Night Of Thunder) by a neck with Surf Dancer (IRE) (Lope de Vega) a further two and three-quarter lengths back in third.
A two-time winner and stakes-placed in France when trained by Mikel Delzangles for the Aga Khan, Berdibek (FR) was coming off a six-week break after finishing a close-up fourth in the Listed Grafton Cup.
Berdibek (FR) advances his record to five wins, two seconds, and four thirds from 27 starts, with earnings of $412,548.
“A lot of credit must go to Brenton. We were hopeful of getting the bak of James (McDonald on Kukeracha) in the run, and that’s where we landed,” O’Shea told Sky Racing.
“When James made his way through, Brenton got on his back, and the rest is history.
“He’s a deserved winner of a Listed race in Australia. He has been a little unlucky, but he has been a really enjoyable horse for his owners.
O’Shea said it was extra special that the winner carried the colours of Jason Abrahams.
“He was there when I started, and if it wasn’t for him, I would not have started. It’s always extra special when Jason has a winner. This is one of the first horses we bought when I came back to training publically, and of course, there was Jason again.
“So it is good to see him do well, and he has a great crop of young horses coming through.”
A €220,000 purchase at the 2017 Arqana Arc Sale, Berdibek is the best of two winners from five to race out of the Zamindar mare Beraviyna.
A half-sister to the Hong Kong Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup winner and Group 1 placed Mighty High (Peintre Celebre), Beraviyna is a daughter of the Group II Deauville Prix de Pomone winner Bernimixa (Linamix).
Berdibek becomes the 76th stakes-winner for Yeomanstown Stud’s hugely successful Dark Angel (Acclamation), the sire of Darley shuttler Harry Angel (IRE).
