Top Brass Top Class - Again

As he did when commencing his career, Top Brass (5 g Epaulette - Highlight, by High Chaparral) made it two from two this time in when winning the $11,000 Foster Maintain Rating 74 1200 metres on 25 November at Te Rapa.

Having defied challengers with a courageous
fresh-up victory in the Rating 74 1200 metres on 8 November at Hastings,
trainer Jamie Richards was on the mark finding a suitable race in the same
grade, while the engagement of Te Akau apprentice Joe Kamaruddin meant he only
carried one-kilo (55kgs) more than last time.

Away well to share a competitive
pace on the outside of the leader and eventual second placed Call Me Evie
(Battle Paint), Top Brass travelled comfortably rounding the home turn and proved
too strong in the run home.

On Dead6 footing that raced well
given rain leading up, Top Brass ran the 1200 metres in a creditable 1:11.6,
last 600m 35.8, and paid $4.40 & $1.90 on the NZ TAB tote.

“Joe (Kamaruddin) did a good job
on him and it was another tough win,” Richards said. “We planned to go forward.
He rated him well, half a length off the leader, a little bit keen but he did a
good job of holding him and he kicked really well in the straight.

“He did well keeping him balanced
when he wanted to lay out a bit and he looked good pushing him out.

“We've placed the horse
carefully, used our claiming apprentices to advantage, and he can hopefully
keep working through the grades.”

Making the presentation, new
Chairman John Elstob, who was handed the reins by outgoing Chairman Karyn
Fenton-Ellis MNZM, congratulated the owners, thanked the sponsor, and made
comments on the rider.

“Joe (Kamaruddin) is riding
really well of late and getting a good share of winners,” he said. “He's a real
asset for Jamie (Richards) to use, with his four-kilo claim, and continues to
improve with experience and confidence.”

The owners were also presented
with a FLAIR ribbon, presented by the FLAIR women - for Ladies Advancing the
Interests of Racing.

In response, and behalf of the
owners, Howard Perry said: “He is not the easiest horse to train, but with the
right stable, and Jamie has been so patient and taken his time with him.

“There is a story about his
naming. I'm a retired school principal and one of my colleagues has a masterful
understanding of the English language. He would pick me up on grammar and
spelling and he came up with the name Top Brass, through his sire Epaulette, in
keeping with that worn on the shoulders in the military.

“Dear John, who named him, is in
his 90^th year, would have been watching on TV with his money on.”

Perry is also co-breeding from
the dam, Highlight, and has a two-year-old colt by Pentire, while the mare has
recently had a colt foal by Satono Aladdin.

Unperturbed during, and after, Top Brass, a lovely type of horse, extended his smart record to four wins from seven starts for owners 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).

Top Brass was strapped by Sumeet Pillay.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz

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