Brando (NZ) Shows True Colours in Japan Trophy

Always renowned for his striking looks and abundant talent, Karaka graduate Brando (NZ) (Savabeel) claimed a racetrack prize to match with a blockbuster performance in Saturday’s $120,000 Group Two Ultimate Mazda Japan Trophy (1600m) at Tauranga.

Brando was bought by Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis for $500,000 from the 2019 Ready to Run Sale. He has now won eight of his 24 starts, with another seven placings and $332,550 in prize-money.

Brando made a big impression when he started his career as a three-year-old, winning three of his first four starts including the Listed Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m). He then got within a neck of Group One glory, finishing second behind Bonham (Per Incanto) in the Levin Classic (1600m) at Trentham.

There have been some ups and downs through the two years since then, but Brando showed signs of returning to his old self with back-to-back wins in February before an unlucky last-start fourth at Trentham.

The five-year-old was ideally suited to the set weights and penalties conditions of Saturday’s Japan Trophy, and he treated the Tauranga crowd to a commanding performance.

Given a perfect ride by Wiremu Pinn, Brando enjoyed a comfortable run in sixth spot before finding room out wide on the track at the top of the straight. Pinn asked the gelding to move through his gears and Brando responded in style, charging to the front and striding clear to score by two lengths.

“He jumped really well and put himself in a nice position, and he gave me a really good feel all the way,” Pinn said. “Once he got the splits in the straight, he’s just been way too good for them and put them away easily.”

Sam Bergerson, assistant trainer to runaway premiership leader Mark Walker, admitted the Te Akau team has had a roller-coaster ride with the super-talented galloper.

“I’m thrilled with that,” he said. “We’ve always known the talent is there, but he’s been a bit up and down and it’s just a matter of which Brando turns up on the day. He was given a fantastic ride today, the splits came at the right time and he won really well.

“He hadn’t won at 1600 metres before, which I thought might be a bit of a worry, but the runs appeared at the right time and he had a bit of luck on his side. That was all he needed, and the real Brando showed up.

“He’s definitely a character and has a mind of his own. We’ve tried a lot of tricks with him over the years – a lot of them haven’t worked, but some of them have. It all depends on the day, but the talent has always been there. It’s fantastic for him to get a result like this.”

“It’s been an amazing weekend,” Bergerson said. “Fair play to the team at home – they all work really hard, and they deserve results like this.”

Brando headed a Karaka quinella in the Japan Trophy. Runner-up Marroni (NZ) (Makfi) was a $90,000 purchase from Book 2 of Karaka 2018 and has earned $265,981 from a 31-start career that has produced seven wins and nine placings.

Vendor	Karaka 2019: Fairdale Stud2019 Ready to Run Sale: Riversley Park Ltd
Purchaser	Mr DC Ellis (Te Akau)
Breeding	Savabeel – Saoirse
Sale	Lot 373, Karaka 2019 Book 1, Psd (Res $200,000)Lot 162, 2019 Ready to Run Sale, $500,000
Bred by	Fairdale Stud (2007) Ltd