Mowhawk Brave Indeed - 3 Win Wednesday

Te Akau apprentice Niranjan Parmar collected his second win on the programme, and Mohawk Brave (3 g Extreme Choice - Ben's Duchess, by Munnings) his third from four starts in the $30,000 3YO 1400 metres on 2 March at Hastings.

Parmar had already won aboard Ragamuffin (Belardo), also owned by Fortuna Syndications (Mgr: John Galvin), and added Mohawk Brave with a copybook ride to cement a hat-trick of wins on the horse.

Mohawk Brave was easily able to get handy, tracking stable-mate Sophisticardo (Burgundy) in fourth, then he set down to fight out the finish with the strongly supported Per Inaway (Per Incanto) and his trademark acceleration was used to good effect.

Sponsored by Sam's Karaka Pick Lot 117, Mohawk Brave ran 1200 metres in 1:23.6 on Dead4 footing and paid $2.90 & $1.60 on NZ TAB tote.

Mohawk Brave had appeared smart winning his first two starts, especially given a whirlwind finish in a Rating 65 1200 metres on Boxing Day at Awapuni. He then resumed with a big run from last in the Almanzor Trophy (Gr. 3, 1200m) on Karaka Million night (22 Jan.) at Ellerslie, won by stable-mate Sword of State (Snitzel).

“He's putting together a good record,” said trainer Jamie Richards, securing his 13^th winner in 10 ten days.

“He's a pretty handy horse, by a really good stallion, Extreme Choice (Not A Single Doubt), and was just run off his feet last time and the 1400 metres suited him.

“He was very well ridden by Parmar, who was able to take up a position one out and one back. Once he got to the outside in the straight he really finished it off well.

“I'm very happy with the way that he's going and he's a promising horse. He freshened up nicely, off for 39 days, and the team has a done a great job to present him at the races in such good order.”

Richards said that all going well, Mohawk Brave could take his place against talented stable-mates in $260,000 Levin Classic (Gr. 1, 1600m) on NZ Oaks Day (19 March) at Trentham.

Celebrating the second Fortuna victory on the day, Galvin said: “It was an interesting test for him today to go to 1400 metres and he didn't get it all his own way. The Sharrock (trained) horse (Per Inaway) was in for the fight, and he's got ability as well, so it was very satisfying to see Mohawk Brave get up in the end.

“With his pedigree, we thought he would be an out and out sprinter, and maybe he is, but when Johnathan Parkes got off him at Ellerslie, in the Group three Almanzor Trophy, he said this horse could be 1400m - 1600m.

“So that's why we brought him to the 1400m today, in order to test him, and it now brings the Levin Classic into play. It won't be easy, it's a mile, and has to run against some pretty good horses but he deserves the opportunity.

“He hasn't been the easiest horse to manage and had some issues, fetlocks and things, but as he's maturing he seems to be getting over that.”

Not A Single Doubt (Redoute's Choice) sire Extreme Choice, was a dual Group 1 winning sprinter that stands at Newgate Farm, N.S.W, and the gelding's dam Ben's Duchess (Munnings) was a Group 3 winner over 1307 metres in America.

With his oldest crop now three-year-olds, Leading First Season Sire in Australia Extreme Choice has already sired horses to win 34 races, seven at stakes' level, including the Golden Slipper (Gr. 1, 1200m) winner Stay Inside.

After his first win, Galvin outlined a successful model utilised by him buying horses that had failed to make it as stallion prospects in Australia.  Mohawk Brave was originally purchased by James Harron Bloodstock for $160,000 at the Inglis Classic Sale, and following a couple of trials Galvin bought him for $65,000 in January 2021 at Inglis Digital Sale.

“Interestingly, we bought Mohawk Brave to go to Singapore,” Galvin said. “But the protocols caused a drama, so we pulled the pin and brought him to New Zealand instead and it's working out well.”

Mohawk Brave was strapped by Reece Trumper.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz