Reward for Effort’s flying start to the year gained momentum on Friday night when his improving filly Brugal Reward claimed a tenacious win in the Group III MVRC Typhoon Tracy Stakes at Moonee Valley.
A last start winner at the same venue, the Darren Weir trained filly was drawn the outside in the field of 11, but charged home with a late rush for Ben Allen to snatch a neck win in the 1200 metre sprint.
“I was confident because she did it so well last week and they went quick in front,” Allen said.
“Once we got into the straight she really found her stride and was strong through the line for a good win.”
A $45,000 Inglis Premier purchase from the Chatswood Stud draft for Darren Weir Racing/ John Foote Bloodstock, Brugal Reward has three wins and four placings from 13 starts with prizemoney toping $180,000 proving a great result for her big group of owners.
Weir said entering Brugal Reward for the Group III contest was a decision made more in hope than anticipation of a win.
“We were just having a throw at the stumps,” Weir said.
“When she drew wide I just said to Ben to go back and ride her to run third! He did that and then they looked like they went absolutely crazy in front – she couldn’t even keep up to be honest.
“She was always going to be strong at the end because of the back-up whereas a few of the others wouldn’t be rock hard and she was great through the line.”
Bred and sold by Chatswood Stud, Brugal Reward is from Tiger Tess, a half-sister to Champion Sprinter and eight-time Group I winner Apache Cat.
Tara Madgwick – Saturday, 25 February 2017