Brazen Beau filly Croatian Belle is off to the Gold Coast for the Magic Millions 2yo Classic with a perfect two-for-two record following a fighting win in the Summer Membership On Sale Now Hcp (1000m) at Moonee Valley.
Ridden by Michael Dee for Ben and JD Hayes, Croatian Belle travelled outside of leader Extremely Wicked. Levelling up rounding the home turn, Croatian Belle found a willing opponent in the $550,000 daughter of Zoustar, who only conceded in the final 100m to go own by three-quarters of a length.
Godolphin's Fastnet Rock debutant Corniche was two and three-quarter lengths back in third.
Carrying a 3.5kg penalty for her win on debut over the same course and distance on December 12, Croatian Belle has put $175,000 in the bank for her large group of enthusiastic female owners.
Ben Hayes revealed he had agonised over running the daughter of Brazen Beau here or Flemington on New Year's Day.
"It's a relief because I spent all week thinking about which race to run in – luckily, I made the right decision," Hayes said.
"She was great, carrying three and a half extra kilos. It was a beautiful ride by Michael. She has improved and was strong through the line.
"I was under a lot of pressure today because we have all of Grace's (Ramage) family here and my aunty in the horse.
"We have an excitable group of owners heading to a $2.5 million race, so Gold Coast, here we come."
A $130,000 purchase for Lindsay Park from the Baramul Stud draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Croatian Belle is the first foal of the High Chaparral (IRE) mare Croatian.
A sister to the Group III Rough Habit Plate runner-up A Man to Match, Croatian has a filly from the first crop of Exceedance heading to the Magic Millions in January (lot 1066).
Runner-up Extremely Wicked has a half-sister from the first crop of Too Darn Hot in the Vinery Stud draft at the Magic Millions. (lot 828).
Croatian missed to Ole Kirk last spring.
Darley Stud's Brazen Beau has ten catalogued for the Magic Millions, 11 in the Inglis Classic, and 18 for the Inglis Premier.
