After missing a run due to his barrier manners in the final week of the season, Theblade made a belated career debut in the $100,000 Street Boss @ Darley super maiden (1100m) on a bleak day at Randwick-Kensington (1100m), and it proved worth the wait.
Ridden by Tommy Berry for Michael, Wayne, and John Hawkes, Theblade travelled one out and one back as the favourite Alpine Ski made the running in the six-horse field.
Angled towards the centre of the track on straightening, the son of Toronado (IRE) easily picked off the leaders to win by a widening five and three-quarter lengths.
The Exceed And Excel colt Alpine Ski clung to second, with a half-length back to the Trapeze Artist colt Johnny The Kid, who came down the outside fence.
Tommy Berry said he was thrilled with the way Theblade came back underneath him.
“I came out on his mouth, which wasn’t ideal,” Berry said.
“In his trials he wanted to jump and run on a bit of fear, but I was wrapped the way he switched off behind the speed.
“He didn’t feel like he was handling the track that well, so I let him drift out and get to better ground. As soon as he got past the middle of the track, it felt like a different surface.
“It’s a very heavy deck, but he is a Toronado (IRE), and they seem to get through it.
“Exciting times ahead.”
Bred and part-owned by Rick Jamieson’s Gilgai Farm and carrying the colours of Rupert Legh and partners, Theblade is the second winner from three to race for the Casino Prince mare, Brigite.
Though unraced, Brigite has some famous siblings. She is a sister to Vinery Stud’s 4-time Group 1 winner and successful sire, All Too Hard and a half-sister to the unbeaten world champion, 15-time Group 1 winner, Black Caviar (Bel Esprit).
Brigite might be following in the footsteps of her unraced half-sister Naturale, the dam of the Group 1 MRC Caulfield Guineas and Group 1 ATC Golden Rose Stakes winner Ole Kirk (Written Tycoon) and Group III MRC Quezette Stakes winner Gimmie Par (Not A Single Doubt).
Brigite is the final live foal of Helsinge (Desert Sun), an unraced half-sister to Magnus, Wilander, Scandiva, and Arctic Flight.
International Thoroughbred Solutions (FBAA) shelled out $160,000 for Brigite’s Brutal colt consigned by Gilgai Farm to the 2024 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
After missing to Extreme Choince in 2022, Brigite made another visit to Toronado (IRE), which stands at Swettenham Stud, this spring for $88,000.
