The Epaulette gelding Highly Decorated has had three trainers and has travelled a heck of a lot of kilometres before his tour de force in Monday's $200,000 Darwin Cup (2050m) at Fannie Bay racetrack.
The Nicole Bruggemann-trained gelding made it seven wins on the trot. Ridden out of the barriers by Jessie Philpot to take up the running, Highly Decorated ran them into the ground. The 5yo son of Epaulette defeated the royally-bred Deep Impact gelding Danon Roman (JPN) by two and three-quarter lengths with a further length back to the Blackfriars gelding Noir De Rue in third.
With just one win from his first 15 starts, Highly Decorated advanced his record to eight wins, one second, and two thirds from 22 starts with earnings of $297,900
He had broken his maiden at his sixth start at Scone for trainer Grant Goldman who had purchased the son of Epaulette for $90,000 from the Noogee Park draft at the 2018 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
After a brief stint with Trevor Day, Highly Decorated transferred to Bruggemann in April. His new trainer admitted she could not watch the finish.
"I kept doubting if I had him fit enough and that last 400m I could not watch," Bruggemann told Sky Racing.
"He's been owned by Donna Stephenson from Kangaroo Island for a good twelve months or more. She bought him just after her dad had died and named him Austin after her dad.
"We were in Alice Springs in March, and she said I want to send you this little horse because he loves the dirt. I said, 'how do you know he loves the dirt' and she said he ran third at Broken Hill.
"We love Donna; although we don't always see eye to eye, and I said to send him to Alice Springs, we'll have a look at it.
"We have rented a house up here and have permanent stables, so we'll head back to South Australia, tidy up a few financial issues, and we'll be back.".
The trainer was full of praise for Jessie Philpot, who has been on the gelding in his last six wins.
"He just loves her (Philpot). I don't know why but he loves her," she said.
Highly Decorated was bred by Jilly Henderson, who purchased his dam Lolavie (Stratum) for $5,000 from the Yarraman Park draft at the 2015 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
A talented mare who was a six-time winner and multiple city placed, Lolavie is a half-sister to stakes-placed Royal Arrow (Royal Academy) from the family of 4-time Group 1 winner Appearance (Commands).
Lolavie has a 2yo colt by Press Statement and was covered last spring by Foxwedge.
Epaulette stands at Darley Stud NSW in 2021 at a fee of $16,500.
