Sweet As Victory in Kilmore Cup

Lightly raced four-year-old Sweet As Bro (NZ) (High Chaparral) continued his rich vein of form to win the Listed A$263,000 Wandong Bus and Coach Kilmore Cup (1600m) on Sunday.

The Leon Corstens trained gelding by High Chaparral was having his fourth run this preparation having already accumulated two wins and a second in lower grades.

Michael Rodd was able to extract the best from Sweet As Bro who forged ahead late in the race to claim victory by a neck over Sistine Demon, with two lengths back to Reparations in third.

“I was really pleased with him,” commented Corstens. “Michael Rodd said the penny hasn’t dropped with him just yet, he thinks there is quite a bit of improvement in him yet.

“I liked the horse from day one. We went over and bought him at Karaka and he has just taken a bit of time, he is just starting to hit his straps now.”

Spicer Thoroughbreds purchased Sweet As Bro for $200,000 from Windsor Park Stud at the 2011 Karaka Premier Sale.

“I was lucky with the horse,” said Corstens. “I advised the owners to buy him and we sent him off to get broken in but the owners sent it to Joe Pride as one of the owners wanted to have a horse trained in Sydney. I have to give Joe a lot of credit because he’d seen the horse needed a little bit of time and he did the right thing and did that.

“The horse ended up back with me and I was very lucky with that. Everything has worked out terrific and I was very pleased to get him back, and also pleased that Joe looked after him.

“I am going to sit down with the owners this week and sort out what we will do. If the horse pulls up really well and I am pleased with him we might go to the Blamey Stakes.”

Bred by A K Burr, B L Jenkins & P W Tatham, Sweet As Bro is out of Successfilly (Success Express) and is from the family of Group 1 winner Cedarberg (Helenus).

Yesterday’s win took Sweet As Bro’s earnings to A$207,590 for his owners Mr L T Topic, Mr S Saric, Mrs J C Saric, Mr A Saric, Mr L J Corstens, Mr G M Wright, Mr G T Burgess & Mr R W Edwards.