Shane Nichols and Craig Newitt combined with Brazen Style (+6000) to secure victory in the Group 3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday afternoon.
It came after she put on a dominant display on resumption at Yarra Valley, breaking her maiden status on October 28.
This was clearly much tougher on paper and a stretch to Group 3 company coming very early into her preparation; however, the move has paid off with the Shane Nichols-trained filly able to cling to victory.
Newitt elected to make every post a winner when bounding across from barrier 11, managing to gain a handy position in running, allowing the daughter of Brazen Beau to get into a rhythm along the inside running rail.
It proved to be a winning move in the end, as the three-year-old filly was able to stride out under a moderate tempo throughout the 1200m.
Miraval Rose (+250) was the big firmer with online bookmakers and seemingly got the upper hand of the eventual winner in the shadows of the post, however, it was the inside nostril of Brazen Style narrowly putting her first in the frame.
Saltaire (+240) was able to run into yet another minor placing in her third start of the campaign, while Commemorative (+260) boxed on for fourth.
2023 Thoroughbred Club Stakes Replay – Brazen Style | T: Shane Nichols | J: Craig Newitt
Shane Nichols was on course to praise his filly and was quick to joke about the photo finish before crediting the steer of Newitt.
“I went over and spoke to Grahame Begg and said ‘I thought it favoured you’,” joked Nichols.
“Watching it on the line and then we watched it together.
“Big thrill to win a stakes race with a filly at her third start.
“She was $250,000 out of (Inglis) Easter. She’s out of a Group 1 winner and probably makes her very expensive.
“We had the discussion with the owners yesterday. I said we’re going to send her (forward). Froggy (Newitt) is the man for the job and we’d rather die by the sword trying to win than ride conservatively and run fifth or sixth.”
Craig Newitt was elated with the victory and is now two rides for two wins aboard Brazen Style as he admitted this was a tough step up in grade.
“My filly, I was at Yarra Valley on Cox Plate Day, it doesn’t happen very often but I managed to win on her and she gave me a nice feel again,” said Newitt.
“Threw her in the deep end in a stakes race and I thought if she came up with a soft gate she’d be really competitive but she’s been very well educated. She’s got really good gate speed.
“When I asked her from the 500 (metre mark) she just kept finding another gear.
“I thought Jordie had her measure 50 (metres) off the line but to her credit she stuck her little head out where it counted.”
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