On a day when bargain priced yearling rules the roost, the Bruce Hill-trained Man Of His Word added his name to the roll call when opening his stakes account with a last to first performance in Saturday's Listed Brisbane Handicap (1600m) at Doomben.
A $10,000 purchase, the 4yo son of Lope de Vega (IRE), had made just one previous attempt at stakes level, that coming when fifth of six behind the top-class Press Statement in the 2015 Group II Stan Fox Stakes at Rosehill.
Coming off a last start win at Eagle Farm, Man Of His Word was given time to find his feet by Jeff Lloyd before slicing through runners to defeat Cylinder Beach ($2.80) by one and three-quarter lengths.
"Man of His Word had to come from last today but I have been saying there are few horses who can sprint like him at the end of his races," Hill told AAP.
"Maybe the penny has finally dropped. As I have said several times he isn't the sharpest tool in the shed but
Man Of His Word will now back up in the Bernborough Stakes at Eagle Farm on December 31.
He becomes the second stakes-winner for Lope De Vega (IRE) in the space of seven days after the top-class Vega Magic captured the Group III Scahill Stakes at Ascot.
Purchased by his trainer for $10,000 from the Patinack Farm draft at the 2014 Magic Millions National Yearling sale, Man Of His Word is the fifth foal of the Fasliyev mare Mandalina a half-sister to multiple Group II winner and multiple Group 1 placed Natural Blitz (Dehere).
Mandalina has a 2yo filly by Lope De Vega (IRE) and a yearling filly by Purrealist. She slipped to Holy Roman Emperor (IRE) last spring.
The final crop of yearlings by Lope De Vega (IRE) will be sold in 2017 with seven lots heading to the Magic Millions and eight to the Inglis Classic Yearling sale.
