Top Brass Top Class

In form Te Akau apprentice Joe Kamaruddin scored a terrific win aboard Top Brass  (5 g Epaulette - Highlight, by High Chaparral) in the $32,500 Dunstan Feeds Open 1200 metres on Saturday at Te Rapa.

A week earlier at Te Rapa, Kamaruddin, who scored a double aboard stable-mates Summer Monsoon (Stratum) and Leaderboard (Street Cry), had finished second on Top Brass to stable-mate Supreme Khan (Mongolian Khan) in the Rating 74 1200 metres and while stepping in grade he benefitted by weight relief to 51kg.

In a strong field, Top Brass utilized barrier three to trail the leaders, was held up before changing ground in the straight and quickened appreciably over the concluding stages to win dominantly. The pair cut a pretty picture at the line, in a race that stable-mate Romantic Lady (Power) produced another good effort for third.

Confidently bet into favouritism, Top Brass returned $3.60 & $1.80 on the NZ TAB tote, after running the 1200 metres in 1:10.8 on Dead5 footing and winning by one and a quarter lengths.

It was the second time the apprentice had won on Top Brass, a courageous horse that won his first two starts and ended his previous campaign with consecutive wins - the second when ridden by Kamaruddin last November at Te Rapa.

“He hadn't been able to draw an inside barrier in his last couple of starts and today he was able to draw a nice gate,” said trainer Jamie Richards.

“It was a good ride by Joe to secure a soft run and he really quickened in well with no weight on his back. He ended up being suited, up in grade but down in weight.

“Joe's three-kilo claim is very valuable to the stable and he's been riding in great form. He's really starting to see it well, now, and we've been able to put him on some nice stock.

“They're a really good bunch of owners involved in the horse, including a couple here today from Ruakaka. He's a tough horse that's run some very good races and after placing twice this time in I was pleased to see him win again.”

Richards said the winner of five from 10 would now spell and prepare for loftier assignments in the spring.

Top Brass is a lovely type of horse, owned by Terry Archer, Mike Beazley, Howard Perry, Stu Graham, Murray Darroch, Marcelle Douglas, Stuart Gladding, and A Dime-A-Dozen Syndicate. He was bred by Archer and Douglas, and given to Te Akau to train.

Top Brass is by the multiple Group One 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