Top Brass All Class

Noted for his tough qualities, Top Brass  (5 g Epaulette - Highlight, by High Chaparral) was back to his best beating a strong field in the $11,000 Te Akau - Be Part of NZ's No. 1 Stable Rating 74 1200 metres during the Waipukurau Jockey Club meeting on Sunday at Hastings. 

After winning two from three, including victory over subsequent Eulogy Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m) winner and Royal Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m) placed stable-mate Lilikoi (Charm Spirit), who finished sixth in the race, Top Brass had resumed on the course in September, during the first day of the Hawkes Bay Spring Carnival, and trainer Jamie Richards elected to give him time following a subpar performance in October at Matamata.

He was not asked for much when strong holding second at the trials on 27 October at Taupo, resumed off 29-days and although facing a competitive line-up he rated a top three chance from barrier four.

Ridden positively from the gates by Te Akau apprentice Chelsea Burdan, with weight relief to 54.5kgs, Top Brass was annoyed in front by race favourite Madam Hass (Per Incanto) but after wresting the lead 300m out he defied challengers on either side and punched out late to score well.

On rain-affected footing that downgraded a race earlier to Slow8, Top Brass covered the 1200 metres in 1:13.3 and returned $8.00 & $2.40 on both the TAB tote and fixed odds.

“It was a really good win by a horse with plenty of natural ability, but he can be difficult at times to both train and ride - as we saw last time out at Matamata.

“We've done plenty of work trying to get him right and I was really pleased with the way he paraded down there today at Hastings. 

“He jumped away well, travelled nicely and really did find a good kick when they quickened in at the top of the straight. He showed he was able to handle some easing in the ground, with the rain that they had.

“It was a nice ride by Chelsea (Burdan). She does a lot of work with him behind the scenes at home and she won a couple of races from the front over the weekend. It's a good skill to have, being able to rate them in front, which doesn't suit all horses, but he's open to further improvement.

“It was a good win for a loyal bunch of owners. Terry Archer, Mike Beazley and their team up at Ruakaka have been good supporters”

Owned by Terry Archer, Mike Beazley, Howard Perry, Stu Graham, Murray Darroch, Marcelle Douglas, Stuart Gladding, and A Dime-A-Dozen Syndicate, Top Brass is by the multiple Group 1 winning sprinter Epaulette (Commands), standing at Darley in Australia. He is the first foal out of a High Chaparral (Sadler's Wells) mare that won five races from 1400m - 1900m, from a good producing dam-line that includes talented third dam Superjet (Jetball).

A Maiden winner last September at Taupo, when one of four on the day for Richards, Top Brass emulated the performance a month later on the same course. Drawing praiseworthy comment from rider Opie Bosson: “He's certainly tough and didn't want to pull up. He's best on race day and he's a tough little bugger.”

Top Brass became the 46^thwinner this season for trainer Jamie Richards, who sits atop the premiership with a clear advantage in overall wins, stakes' wins (7), prize money ($1.1m), and strike rate (5.3). 

Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM said: “He was bred by Terry Archer, one of New Zealand's very best breeders and it's always a thrill when breeders give us a horse train. He bred the horse with Marcelle Douglas, races him with friends and I think the way he won today shows that he's back on track and can be competitive in the next grade. 

“We always appreciate getting horses like him to train, and it was great to win the race that we sponsored.”

Top Brass was strapped by Te Akau racing manager Libby Richards.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz

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