A one-time Inglis Classic sale-topper, Midland (Brazen Beau) continued his rapid rise to the top with a tough victory in today’s $300,000 Listed Inglis Guineas at Rosehill.
When Bruce Perry purchased lot 609 (ex Pouter) at the 2019 Classic Yearling Sale at Riverside for $550,000 from the Murrulla Stud draft, the colt became the most expensive horse ever sold at Classic at that time.
And in a huge result for his connections, Midland today won his third consecutive race and fourth overall – as well as his first Stakes success – when victorious in the final race of the Inglis Race Series for this season.
Midland defeated the Gary Portelli-trained Nicci’s Fling (Nicconi), with Peter and Paul Snowden’s Exosphere 3YO Exoboom in third place in the Guineas.
Perry explained how Midland was proving difficult as a young colt so the decision was made to geld him, and the horse remains undefeated ever since.
“We bought him hoping he’d have come on a little earlier and that we could keep him a colt but that wasn’t the case, he needed time to mature mentally and he never focused properly as a colt, which isn’t uncommon, so we gave him the ultimate snip and now he’s racing so kindly,’’ Perry said.
“It’s hard to forget him from the Classic Sale, he was a stunning colt, he caught the eyes of a lot of people that week and he sold accordingly.
“He just had a lot of presence about him, a lovely head, lovely eye, such a strong horse.’’
Perry purchased Midland for a syndicate who now race the horse alongside him including Lib Petagna, Waikato Stud’s Mark and Garry Chittick, Mark and John Carter of Jomara Bloodstock, Greg Clarke, Jamieson Park’s James Chapman and David and Nicki Wilson.
Midland was bred by Reture’s Warwick Doughty.
Trainer Kris Lees said: “He was an expensive yearling and he was always a really nice horse from day one.
“We made the decision to geld him at the end of last preparation and he’s come back a really good horse. I think they’re going to keep having plenty of fun with him.
“He was on trial at the trip today…so to take that next step is certainly encouraging. He got a lovely ride from Brenton [Avdulla] from the gate, he took his time to get across and he travelled like a winner a long way from home.’’
The 12th stakes-winner for Brazen Beau, Midland has now won four of his nine starts.
