The Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Big Brown (USA) proved a major disappointment in his four seasons at stud in Australia but he has an honest toiler in the Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained Brown Ben who earned a second stakes success in Wednesday's $100,000 Listed Heiniger Balaklava Cup (1600m).
Ridden by Corey Parish, the 7yo gelding finished resolutely to defeat Waging War (Rebel Raider) by a half length with the winner's stablemate Shrouded In Mist (Exceed And Excel) two and three-quarter lengths back in third.
Winner of the Listed Tokyo City Cup at Morphettville back in September 2017 and winless in 18 starts since, Brown Ben advances his record to 7 wins, 4 seconds and 5 thirds from 61 starts with earnings of $324,835.
"It's a very special win for the whole team at Angaston. Brown Ben has been with us a long time and he's got some beautiful in Peter Robinson and Jack (Stott)," Calvin McEvoy said.
"He's a horse
that won a Listed race over two years ago and he got badly weighted since then, handicapper got him because he is such a small horse.
"But he always tries and Corey Parish gets on with him well. I said to Corey come
out neutral and do not move on him – he's back on the minimum today and he's
being going well at home so it is just fantastic.
"This day last year was going to be his swansong but he was really stiff not to win the race so we kept going with him. He loves Balaklava, loves the mile. I don't know (where he will go from here) to be honest. We've got the Murray Bridge Cup, the Tokyo City Cup which he won two years ago so there are a few options."
A half-brother to the Group III VRC Maribyrnong Plate winner and Group II VRC Sires' Produce Stakes runner-up Aspect (Pluck), Brown Ben is out of the 5-time winning Lonhro mare Innishbeg a half-sister to Group III Belle of the Turf Stakes winner Sexy Eyes (Written Tycoon) and Listed winner Tina Melina (Jet Spur).
Innishbeg has a yearling colt by All Too Hard and was covered last year by Headwater.
