Brando (NZ) Goes Back-to-Back

For most of his career, the biggest win Brando (NZ) (Savabeel) had on his CV was a Listed victory as a three-year-old – but on the last two Saturdays, the flashy and super-talented Karaka graduate has added two triumphs at Group Two level. 

A week after capturing the Japan Trophy (1600m) at Tauranga, Brando backed up and tackled a middle-distance for the first time in the City of Palmerston North Awapuni Gold Cup (2000m). He duly delivered again, scoring the ninth win of his 25-start career and lifting his earnings to $413,050. Brando was bought by Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis for $500,000 from the 2019 Ready to Run Sale.

Brando has had his share of ups and downs since he was a black-type winner and Group One placegetter as a three-year-old, but everything has fallen into place during his five-year-old season. His 10 starts in his current campaign have produced four wins, a placing and more than $200,000 in prize-money.

Saturday’s Awapuni Gold Cup win was among his most impressive performances. Aided by a ground-saving ride from Opie Bosson, who cut the corner and switched back to the inside rounding the home turn, Brando surged through on the inside of Colorado Star (NZ) (Alamosa) and clawed his way past that rival. By the time he reached the finish line, Brando had got himself in front by three-quarters of a length.

“He’s one of my favourite horses in the stable, so I’m just so happy to get a big win on him,” Bosson said. “It’s great to see him in such good form now. Mark (Walker, trainer) has done such a great job with him. We weren’t sure if he could run 2000 metres, but he’s done it easily. I had a lapful of horse at the top of the straight, and he let down beautifully.”

The Te Akau team was represented at Awapuni by assistant trainer Sam Bergerson, who has been amazed by Brando’s exploits over 1600 metres and 2000 metres on the last two weekends.

“It’s been a massive effort,” he said. “If you’d told me two weeks ago that we were going to be here, I would have laughed at you.

“Mark’s done an amazing job. I never really thought this horse would run a mile, let alone 2000 metres. But Opie gave him a great ride, and it was a massive, tough effort by the horse.

“Sometimes when horses win one, they get a bit of confidence up. Saddling him up today, I thought, ‘Jeez, this horse is loving himself at the moment.’ He seems to be really confident.

“He’s had a few issues and things go wrong along the way, but this season everything has gone to plan. Having come here today and won this race over 2000 metres, it sets him up for things like Hawke’s Bay in the spring, so it’s a huge win going forward.”