Brazen Affair Bold Again

The best of good things, Brazen Affair (4 m Brazen Beau – Southern Romance, by Medaglia d’Oro) made it back-to-back wins at Cambridge, taking out the TCL Earthworks $18,500 Rating 72 970 metres on Wednesday 10 September.

Ridden again by Opie Bosson ONZM, after the pair comfortably won the Rating 66 970 metres there on 29 August, Brazen Affair rated a top three chance and extended her outstanding course/distance record to three wins, three seconds, and third, from just seven starts.

Settling sixth of the seven runners, as a genuine pace ensued up front, Brazen Affair was seven lengths astern at the 600m and still well back rounding the home turn, but when asked to quicken mid-straight she sailed on by to win going away.

In the process, Brazen Affair franked her previous time (55.6), running 55.5 for 970 metres, scoring by one and three-quarter lengths, and paid $3.50 & $1.60 on the NZ TAB tote.

“They went pretty quick up front and, more importantly, I was just trying to get some cover from the very strong wind turning for home and we managed to cut the corner and block the wind a bit better,” Bosson said.

“There was so much pace in the race, but ideally you would want to be handier over 970 metres. She didn’t have the early speed, so I sat back and waited and she was too good in the end.”

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 four races, with four seconds, from 11 starts.

On course, Te Akau racing manager Michael Gray said: “She still has the knack of missing the jump slightly, but it was a lovely patient ride by Opie, there was speed on paper, and a good win in the finish.”

Although Brazen Affair has constructed a terrific record on the poly-track, Gray suggested she could be seen on turf once the tracks firm up and over suitable shorter trips.

“It was another really good win on the Cambridge synthetic track,” said Mark Walker, training partner with Sam Bergerson.

“Opie rode her well and she really rounded them up quickly when she turned for home, so it was a really good effort up in grade.

“Obviously the distance and synthetic track suits her, especially when there are not that many 1000-metre races in New Zealand, but these races on the poly-track does cater for the type of horse that she is.

“She’s racing very well, has her confidence up, and I can see her going on with it from here.”

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) which includes Shanti Brown, the executive assistant to David and Karyn.

Brazen Affair is by the same sire, Brazen Beau (I Am Invincible), as former stable-mate On The Bubbles, winner of the RL 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.

Dam Southern Romance is by very good sire and broodmare sire Medaglia d’Oro (El Prado), while 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 family of Group One winner Seabrook (Hinchinbrook).

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

Brazen Affair was strapped by Cooper Stumbles. 

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