Brutal Victory for Star O’Reilly Colt

Tara Madgwick - Saturday August 25
A five length debut winner at Caulfield back in July, O'Reilly colt Brutal was a raging hot favourite for the Listed MVRC Mitchell McKenzie Stakes over 1200 metres at Moonee Valley on Saturday and kept his unbeaten record intact.



Prepared by Team Hawkes, who hold him in high regard, Brutal (image Grant Courtney) lived up to expectation when he settled off the pace before charging to the line to beat another promising Kiwi bred colt in Tavisan, a son of outstanding staying sire Tavistock.

The margin was only a long neck, but the style of the win was impressive to all.

"He was a bit of a lad going to the gates the other day, but he was professional this time," said winning rider Dwyane Dunn.

"He dug deep and I love the way he just keeps improving. He savaged the line, he just wanted to get that other horse."

Brutal as a yearlingConsigned by Mapperley Stud top the 2017 NZB Premier Yearling Sale at Karaka, Brutal was knocked down to Hawkes Racing for $220,000 and runs for a syndicate of stable clients who look to be in for some exciting times this spring.

"He hadn't had a race for five weeks, so we'll see how he pulls up," said Wayne Hawkes.

"You don't have to win by a big margin, you just have to get the job done.

"Caulfield Guineas… that's the question now, do we keep him to sprint races or stretch him out."

Brutal is the fifth foal of the stakes-placed Golan (IRE) mare Alberton Princess who is a three-quarter-sister to Group III ARC Eclipse Stakes winner Lady Alberton and a half-sister to Group II Matamata Breeders' Stakes winner Te Akau Rose and to the stakes-placed Dancing Bridges(the dam of stakes-winner Testarhythm) and to Alberton Rose (the dam of Group III winner Cavalry Rose).

Alberton Princess was sold for $75,000 at the 2016 National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale when carrying a Sacred Falls colt.

That colt was sold to David Ellis for $170,000 at this year's yearling sale at Karaka.

Alberton Princess has a yearling colt by Ocean Park and was served by the Cox Plate-winning son of Thorn Park again last season.

Brutal is one of 76 live foals from the 18th and final crop of the Waikato Stud stalwart O'Reilly who died on the final day of 2014. Brutal is his 89thstakes-winner.




Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Thursday October 30
Here is the full list of 30 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Tabitha Ridley-Thomas Joins Magic Millions Bloodstock Team
Australia's leading thoroughbred auctioneer Magic Millions has boosted it's impressive Bloodstock Team with news Tabitha Ridley-Thomas has this week joined the company.
Karaka Millions and NZB Kiwi Opportunities in Ready to Run Sale
More than ever before, horses bought from the NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka will be eligible to compete for significant prize-money within 18 months of their purchase.
One To Watch – Wyong
With her half-brother Private Eye set to line up in Saturday's $3m ATC Russell Balding Stakes (1300m) at Randwick, 3yo Shalaa (IRE) filly Confidentiality broke her maiden on Thursday at Wyong at just her second start for trainer Joe Pride.
Walker Upbeat Heading into Flemington
Trainer Mark Walker will have a two-pronged attack on the Gr.1 VRC Derby (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday, headed by last start Listed 3YO Geelong Classic (2200m) winner Azazel, with lightly-tried McWoody also making the field.
600k Fantasy World Heads Third Day of Tattersalls Autumn HIT Sale
FANTASY WORLD was one of three lots to realise 500,000 guineas or more on the third day of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale which saw significant increases to the median, average and turnover from the equivalent session in 2024.
2025 Victoria Derby Pedigree Preview - Who is Bred to Stay?
The Group I VRC Victoria Derby at Flemington on Saturday is worth a whopping $2 million and the testing trip of 2500m means a lot of horses are not going to see it out strongly and this looks a competitive year with no G1 winners engaged and a full field of up and comers set to do battle, so let’s see what the pedigrees have to say.
High Hopes for Pencarrow Stud Homebred Farnan Filly
Passiflora will provide her connections with a sound guide at Tauranga as to where she sits in the three-year-old pecking order.
Promising Winner for Peltzer
Michael Freedman trained his first winner for Champion Thoroughbreds on Thursday at Wyong and promising Peltzer gelding Sir Loyne won in a manner to suggest there is much more to come.
Breeding To Win - 2025 $10m Golden Eagle
Racing fans and punters love a good debate, but if there's one thing they tend to unite on, it's the view that the retirement of talented young horses from the racetrack to the stud happens far too early for their liking!