It was a race full of intrigue, of tactics and speed maps, and elite quality, and at the finish it was Light Infantry Man that rose to the occasion to put a new peak on his career in the Group I Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington.
With Pride Of Jenni and Deny Knowledge engaged, both strong leaders coming off last start wins, those maps and tactics were the talk of the town.
At the off, Pride Of Jenni flew the gates and got her spot instantly and happily, Deny Knowledge copped a squeeze and went briefly backwards. Out of the speed battle reckoning.
But from the outside gate Daniel Stackhouse on outsider Young Werther drove forward.
Quite likely to the surprise of most, including the horse, who would ordinarily consider a midfield position more than enough early effort, however he answered the challenge as best he could, sat second, and ensured the pressure was there to stay.
It was subsequently no place for the faint hearted as we all expected, and midfield one off the fence with a lovely spot was Light Infantry Man. If you could pick your spot in the circumstances he would have picked it.
Loved it so much in fact, Ethan Brown presented him early in a move that his trainer Ciaron Maher later commented – “I thought, geez, that's brave Brownie off a hot speed”.
But it was the right move. He launched to the lead at the top of the straight and gave nothing a look in despite some brave chases from behind.
At the finish he beat Deny Knowledge (Pride Of Dubai) by two lengths with Zardozi (Kingman) third.
Pride Of Jenni faded out of it to finish ninth of the 10 runners, beaten 15 lengths but reported to have pulled up well.
“As Jenny does, she picks them up from a long way out and he was always going to relish it this bloke,” said Brown.
“All the cards fell our way today and I'll tell you what, it's a long straight that Flemington straight but he really appreciates being ridden like that.”
Light Infantry Man has led quite the windswept and interesting life.
He was promising enough in his early days to run in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket in England at his third start, albeit finishing ninth, but then ran second in two Group One races in France straight after and headed to Australia for a crack at the 2022 $5million Golden Eagle at Rosehill for start six.
He finished sixth to I Wish I Win there and returned to David Simcock in Europe.
That resulted in six more northern hemisphere starts, including a second in the Group I Prix d'Ispahan at Deauville, third in the Group I Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot and third in the Group I Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques le Marois at Deauville.
He was named Champion 3YO Miler in France in 2022.
He then came permanently to Australia, into the care of Ciaron Maher, with a NH Group I record of seven starts, five placings.
He headed to Perth late last year to get the first Group One win on the board, winning the Northerly Stakes at Ascot but this Australian Cup win took him to a new height.
An original €25,000 purchase at the 2020 Arqana October Yearling Sale, he was an £82,000 buy for Blandford Bloodstock at the 2022 Goffs Breeze Up Sale.
Bred by Barbara Moser, he is the best of three winners from five to race for the 4-time winning Kyllachy mare Lights On Me (GB).
