Brambles Signals Derby Intentions

The Peter Moody trained Brambles (NZ) has shot to favouritism for the Group 1 Queensland Derby following his win in Saturday's A$150,000 Group 3 Grand Prix Stakes (2200m) at Doomben.

Leading home a Karaka quinella in the feature three-year-old event, Brambles (Savabeel x Prickle) was taken to the lead by Brad Rawiller and dictated terms in front, setting a solid pace and racing five lengths clear at the 700 metre mark.

Straightening for home, the son of Savabeel was never in any danger as he held his margin to the post to win by an impressive three-and-a-quarter-lengths with fellow Karaka graduate Vatuvei (Reset) taking second.

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Brambles now has�his sights on the
Group 1 Queensland Derby

Brambles carries hot form into the Derby as his victory on Saturday came after a good win in the Group 3 Rough Habit Plate (2000m) earlier this month.

Now the clear favourite for the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) on 9 June, Brad Rawiller sees no reason why the three-year-old won't be able to run out the derby distance, providing he gets good footing come race day.

Brambles is currently quoted at $2.80 to win the Queensland Derby in two weeks' time, with South Australian Derby winner Zabeelionaire (Zabeel) the second favourite at $3.80.

A son of the Cox Plate winner Savabeel, Brambles will be looking to become the second Derby winner for his sire this season with Sangster claiming the A$1.5 million Group 1 VRC Derby (2400m) in the spring.

The sire of 17 stakes winners, Savabeel has registered Group 1 success in Brisbane before with his top class daughter Scarlett Lady winning the Group 1 Queensland Oaks last season.

Bred by Celia Crawshaw, Brambles was purchased by Moody Racing from Waikato Stud at New Zealand Bloodstock's 2010 Karaka Premier Sale for $100,000.

Raced by Peter Moody, Oti Uthmeyer Higgins, Maverick Racing, Mr D Minogue, Mr J Neeson, Mr C Sarantakos, Mrs B White, Dooner Armidale Racing, Mr R De Zoete-Spiero and The Flo, Brambles has now won four of his nine starts, with a further four placings, for just shy of A$250,000 in stakes.

Peter Moody purchased the full brother to Brambles at this year's Karaka Premier Sale from Anistay Lodge for $110,000.

Brambles will be looking to become the 17th New Zealand bred Derby winner since 2010. New Zealand bred horses have won five Derby races this season with Sangster (VRC Derby), Fay Fay (Hong Kong Derby), Silent Achiever (New Zealand Derby), Mr Ambassador (Perak Derby) and Zabeelionaire (South Australian Derby).