Brambles’ Brother Wins Kalgoorlie Cup

Savabeel five-year-old Lopov (NZ), a brother to Group 1 winner Brambles, won his first stakes race at Kalgoorlie on Saturday in the A$150,000 Listed Kalgoorlie Cup (2300m).

The Adam Durrant trained kiwi galloper won his last start at Belmont Park over a mile and in a big ask took a 700 metre step-up in trip to win Saturday’s feature in Western Australia by a convincing three lengths.

Handily placed early by jockey Daniel Staeck in Saturday's race, Lopov took off turning for home and put the race away in a dominant performance, giving Durrant his first win in the Kalgoorlie Cup.

The five-year-old gelding is out of the Pins mare Prickle and is a full brother to the Group 1 Queensland Derby winning Karaka graduate Brambles who is trained by Peter Moody. Moody also purchased the yearling full brother at this year’s Premier Sale for $110,000.

Bred by Celia Crawshaw, Lopov was a bargain purchase by Danny O'Brien from Waikato Stud at the 2009 Karaka Premier Sale for $25,000. Raced by Mr P Gangemi, Mr M Gangemi, Mr S Trimboli, Mr T Condipodero, Mr J Del Basso and Mr R Del Basso, Lopov now boasts seven wins from his 27 starts for over $360,000.

Lopov is the 18th stakes winner for his sire Savabeel, the Cox Plate winning son of Zabeel. With just five crops of racing age, Savabeel sired 10 stakes winners last season alone including two Group 1 Derby winners in Brambles and Sangster.

Savabeel is also the sire of the smart Australian performers Scarlett Lady, My Emotion, Tullamore, Do Ra Mi and Strike the Stars.