Brighton comes from last to win at Tauranga
Photo: Kenton Wright, Race Images
A scintillating performance to score a last-to-first victory over 1200 metres at Tauranga on the weekend has promising three-year-old Brighton ready to tackle the $250,000 Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance 3YO Mile at Ellerslie this Sunday.
The underrated son of Buffalo Man had done plenty wrong in his last start performance in the Gr. 2 Great Northern Guineas on New Year's Day which prompted trainer Nigel Tiley to look for an opportunity to try and settle his charge before Sunday's challenge.
"We just had him a little fresh for the Guineas at Ellerslie where he over-raced and got on heels so I knew I had to try and get another run into him before we tackled the good three-year-olds again," he explained.
"I was keen to see him settle better and to finish his race off well but I wasn't quite expecting what he delivered on Saturday, especially against the older horses in that rating 65 grade."
Rider Zinjete Moki followed instructions to the letter as she allowed the gelding to find his feet early as race favourite Sheselusive set up a solid speed in front. Still back last on the home corner Moki guided her mount along the rails as he produced a barnstorming finish inside the final 150 metres to turn a two length deficit into a comfortable one and three quarter length victory at the winning post in a swift 1.09.38 for the 1200 metre journey.
"He does have a very good turn of foot which he showed in the 2000 Guineas where he came from last to finish fourth although a long way from the winner that day," said Tiley.
"After he won the Champagne Stakes over a mile on a slow surface as a two-year-old I may have made a mistake as we tried to get him ready for those early spring races on the wetter tracks.
"He didn't really cope with them and does seem to prefer the top of the ground where he can really let down.
"I think he is well suited to a mile and could get even further so we will have a crack on Karaka Million night and then take a look at the Avondale Guineas. The Derby is still our goal but we will see how he measures up over 2100 metres in the Guineas before we commit to a Derby start." – NZ Racing Desk
The underrated son of Buffalo Man had done plenty wrong in his last start performance in the Gr. 2 Great Northern Guineas on New Year's Day which prompted trainer Nigel Tiley to look for an opportunity to try and settle his charge before Sunday's challenge.
"We just had him a little fresh for the Guineas at Ellerslie where he over-raced and got on heels so I knew I had to try and get another run into him before we tackled the good three-year-olds again," he explained.
"I was keen to see him settle better and to finish his race off well but I wasn't quite expecting what he delivered on Saturday, especially against the older horses in that rating 65 grade."
Rider Zinjete Moki followed instructions to the letter as she allowed the gelding to find his feet early as race favourite Sheselusive set up a solid speed in front. Still back last on the home corner Moki guided her mount along the rails as he produced a barnstorming finish inside the final 150 metres to turn a two length deficit into a comfortable one and three quarter length victory at the winning post in a swift 1.09.38 for the 1200 metre journey.
"He does have a very good turn of foot which he showed in the 2000 Guineas where he came from last to finish fourth although a long way from the winner that day," said Tiley.
"After he won the Champagne Stakes over a mile on a slow surface as a two-year-old I may have made a mistake as we tried to get him ready for those early spring races on the wetter tracks.
"He didn't really cope with them and does seem to prefer the top of the ground where he can really let down.
"I think he is well suited to a mile and could get even further so we will have a crack on Karaka Million night and then take a look at the Avondale Guineas. The Derby is still our goal but we will see how he measures up over 2100 metres in the Guineas before we commit to a Derby start." – NZ Racing Desk