A Beauty Our Beau
16 January, 2025
From last, Beau Brummell (4 g Embellish – Fashion Forward, by Pentire) won the $25,000 Janet Francis Rating 65 1600 metres on 15 January at Riccarton.
Given time (67 days) by trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson after being collared in the Rating 75 2000 metres during Cup Week in November at Riccarton, Beau Brummell was dropping back in grade.
A dual course winner over 1600 metres, including his Maiden victory by three lengths, Beau Brummell also recorded a notable fourth in the Listed Southland Guineas, was bet as though unbeatable when winning at Timaru, and ended last season with three wins.
Ridden by apprentice jockey Ace Lawson-Carroll (a1), recording his third win for the stable this season, Beau Brummell settled last of 13 runners, tracked up widest inside the 600m and sprinted resolutely to grab a three-quarter length victory.
Stable-mate Rule Of Law (Justify), ridden by Craig Grylls, fought hard for third after racing outside the leader.
“It was a really good effort to come that far back in a big field and he seems to have a great affinity with the course at Riccarton,” Walker said.
“As we’ve said before, the stock of Embellish just seem to be getting better as four-year-olds. They’re starting to furnish into their frames and a lot of them of racing in really good form.
“Beau Brummell is a big boy who just needed time to mature physically and fill out and develop.
“He’s establishing a good record and certainly racing as though he can be competitive in higher grades.
“He raced well and won races at this time last year, and there are plenty of good opportunities coming up for him through the summer and into autumn.”
On footing that upgraded to Good4, Beau Brummell ran 1600 metres in 1:36.6 and paid $10.50 & $3.50 on the NZ TAB tote, after an earlier $15.00 & $4.20 fixed odds quote.
Beau Brummell was bred and is raced by David Ellis CNZM & Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM, together with Waikato Thoroughbred Racing board director Glenn Holmes and his wife Catherine Holmes.
Ellis purchased sire Embellish (Savabeel) as a yearling at Karaka, and the Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas winner stands at Cambridge Stud, with his oldest progeny are four-year-olds.
Walker & Bergerson clearly lead the way when it comes to training the stock of Embellish, having had seven individual winners of 12 races, including South Island Champion Three-Year-Old Talisker, who recorded a hat-trick of wins before finishing second in the Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas, along with three-time winner and Group 2 Waikato Guineas placed What You Wish For.
“He’s made a great start to his stallion career Embellish, with winners in New Zealand and Australia, and this bloke (Beau Brummell) is certainly proving his worth,” Ellis said.
“It was a big effort to come from that far back. Ace (Lawson-Carroll) did a good job balancing him up and the horse really found the line strongly.
“It’s great to race the horse with Glenn and Cathie (Holmes). They’re wonderful friends and really good supporters of the stable.”
Beau Brummell is from an unraced mare by high-quality sire Pentire (Be My Guest), while his second dam Maire Claire, by multiple Champion Stallion O’Reilly, was a very consistent and talented grey mare, winning six times from 1300m – 1600m. Her wins included the Listed Kelt Memorial (1400m) and she was stakes' placed four times including a second to Penny Gem in the Group 1 Captain Cook Stakes (1600m).
Beau Brummell was strapped by Naomi Warrander.
Photo credit - Ajay Berry - www.raceimages.co.nz