Second on debut in the Group III Maribyrnong Plate at Flemington, the Per Incanto (USA) colt Little Brose went one better in Saturday’s Listed Thoroughbred Club Merson Cooper Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield.
Ridden by Michael Dee for Ben and JD Hayes, Little Brose came from midfield to defeat the sensationally backed Exceed And Excel colt Cylinders by one and a quarter lengths with a further long head back to the fast-finishing Written By colt Gangitano, who edged out Remedies (Sepoy) for third.
JD Hayes said the son of Per Incanto (USA) is likely to miss the Magic Millions 2yo Classic in favour of the Blue Diamond.
“He really trained on nicely, out of that good run (at Flemington) where the leader came from last, and we did a few things wrong,” Hayes said.
“He paraded a lot better today and it was an exceptional performance by him, Thanks to Mr Young (owner) - he took the horse one out at the Gold Coast (Magic Millions) and luckily he’s got a Listed winner before Christmas.
“We’ll probably have to resist the temptation of taking him to Queensland because we do think he’d really hold his own in a race like the Blue Diamond.”
Michael Dee said Little Brose learned plenty from his debut.
“He gave me a really nice feel today, even going to the gates seemed very mature,” Dee said.
“Ben and JD said before the race he’s come here in a much better way. He was calm in the mounting yard which was a good indication that he’d taken the right direction from his first run at Flemington, and it was pretty soft on the line.”
A $200,000 purchase for Lindsay Park Racing from the Sledmere Stud draft at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Little Brose is the fourth winner from six to race out of the stakes-winning Straight Man mare Mohegan Sky (USA).
A half-sister to the Listed winner and multiple Grade III placed Vous (Wild Rush), Mohegan Sky (USA) was a $25,000 online purchase in 2021 but she sadly died on October 11.
Her final foal is a yearling filly by Russian Revolution.
Little Brose is the 26th stakes-winner for Little Avondale Stud’s top-class Street cry (IRE) stallion Per Incanto (USA).
