A Brazen & Bold Win

With only one to the races for Te Akau trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson, Brazen Affair (4 m Brazen Beau – Southern Romance, by Medaglia d’Oro) won the $18,500 Cambridge Equine Hospital Rating 66 970 metres on 29 August at Cambridge - continuing the stable's exceptional early season strike rate.

From only 30 runners, the team has recorded 8 wins - a strike rate of 3.75.

A course/distance winner two starts ago, Brazen Affair had subsequently finished strongly for second in the Rating 67 970 metres on 8 August, boasted a first, three second's, and a third placing from five starts on the course, and despite carrying the top weight (60kg), she rated a top three chance on her recent form.

Stable rider Opie Bosson ONZM was aboard again after combining last time and after securing a lovely trip behind the two leaders, she gained a winning advantage mid-straight to score comfortably.

It was a good victory, especially given the weight carrying effort by a recently turned four-year-old mare that is not the biggest in stature, but whose heart is in the right place, who has large amounts of intestinal fortitude, and she knows how to win. 

Brazen Affair ran 970 metres in 55.6 and paid $1.50 & $1.20 on the NZ TAB tote.

A stylish trial winner before debuting as a two-year-old, Brazen Affair had raced clear to win a Maiden during her three-year-old season, and is now the winner of three races, with four seconds and a third, from 10 starts. 

“It was really good to see her win again,” Walker said. “She’d had a wind affliction and an operation to correct it, so it’s good that she is still able to race as well as she is.

“She has raced well on the poly-track, mainly because they’re catering for horses like her that are suited to short sprint trips.  We’ll keep her to the shorter trips and although going up in grade she has the courage to remain competitive.”

Brazen Affair was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $110,000 at the Karaka 2023 Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Westbury Stud, and owned by the Te Akau Brazen Beautiful Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

Brazen Affair is by the same sire, Brazen Beau (I Am Invincible), as former stable-mate On The Bubbles, winner of the Karaka Million 2YO and Group 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes, whom Ellis also purchased as a yearling at Karaka. 

At the time of purchasing Brazen Affair, Ellis said: “She’s a filly that reminded us of On The Bubbles, with a deep girth, short-coupled, and good mover. And, it’s a family best known for leaving good fillies.”

Champion 3YO Racehorse in Australia, Brazen Beau, by Champion Australian Sire I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit), has left progeny to win over 1000 races, including 44 individual stakes' winners (three Group One), with On The Bubbles among his best performers. 

Her dam Southern Romance is by very good sire and broodmare sire Medaglia d’Oro (El Prado), while her third dam Tennessee Midnight, by breed shaper Danehill (Danzig), is the dam of Group One winner Aloha (Encosta de Lago), multiple Group Two winner Libertini (I Am Invincible), and this is the family of Group One winner Seabrook (Hinchinbrook). 

Brazen Affair has bloodline crosses to Danzig, Northern Dancer, and speed influence Bletchingly. 

Congratulations to all her owners, especially to our own Shanti Brown (our wonderful EA) and her partner Craig who share in her ownership.

Brazen Affair was strapped by Rhiannon Smith.

Photo credit - Kenton Wright - www.raceimages.co.nz