Russian Revolution added a new stakes-winner to his tally at Caulfield on Saturday when the last race on the card, the Listed MRC Bel Esprit Stakes (1200m), was won by the Kris Lees trained gelding Brudenell.
Brudenell arrives in time to win the Listed Bel Esprit - image Reg Ryan / Racing Photos
Brudenell has been working nicely through the grades and then was tipped in the deep end last start when finishing a good fifth in the Group I MRC Oakleigh Plate.
Dropped back to Listed class for this assignment, he was well ridden by Mark Zahra to pounce late and grab Maharba to win by three-quarters of a length.
“I spoke to Kris this morning and he said just have the cosiest run possible because he's not that strong over 1200 and it just worked out perfect,” said Mark Zahra.
"Things changed around with the fence being off but I was able to just conserve the whole way and just had to run down Maharba and he was good late. He out-fought Maharba."
An $80,000 Inglis Classic purchase for Lees Racing / Tasman Bloodstock from the Glastonbury Farm draft, Brudenell runs for a big syndicate of stable clients and has the overall record of nine wins from 17 starts and prizemoney just shy of $670,000.
Bred by Macquarie Stud, he is the best of two winners winner for Knit ’n’ Purl, a winning More Than Ready (USA) daughter of Group III winner Zingalong from the family of Group I winner Inspirational Girl.
Knit ‘n’ Purl has been a regular visitor to Newgate sires and has a yearling colt by Flying Artie that made $160,000 at Inglis Classic this year when bought by Lees Racing / Bahen Bloodstock and had a colt last spring by Capitalist before visiting Anamoe.
Brudenell is the 11th stakes-winner for Newgat Farm's Russian Revolution, who has seven entries for Inglis Easter.
