It took eight starts and six wins for Yellow Brick to earn the respect he deserves, but the 3yo son of The Mission made an army of new admirers with his dominant performance in Saturday’s $200,000 Group III Brandons Gold Coast Guineas (1200m) at the Sunshine Coast.
Ridden by Ben Thompson for the father and daughter team of Tony and Maddy Sears, Yellow Brick defeated the Overshre filly Lady Laguna by one and a quarter lengths with the Divine Prophet gelding Soothsayer a long-neck back in third.
The winner of the $750,000 King Of The Mountain at Toowoomba on New Year’s Eve, Yellow Brick was making his first appearance since finishing second to Fashion Legend in the $2,000,000 Magic Millions 3yo Guineas at the Gold Coast on January 10.
With his stakes breakthrough, Yellow Brisk advances his record to six wins, a second, and a third from eight starts with earnings of $1,268,100.
“I was watching it with Mum, and when he was caught deep, I told her it wasn’t looking good because it was going to be hard to win from there, Maddy Sears said.
“But as soon as Ben put down the accelerator, he said see you later to them.
“He’ll go to the Fred Best next, then into the Stradbroke, and we’ll put him away after that, with the Golden Eagle his main target in the spring.
An emotional Tony Sears acknowledged the contributions made by his daughter.
“I’m so proud of her; a lot of the credit goes to her and all the other staff because they do things behind the scenes that I don’t,” he said.
“She should be very proud of what she’s done with this horse. I’ve had a little bit of input, but she does most of the hard work, and I couldn’t love her any more.”
Tony Sears Racing/Paul Moroney Bloodstock shelled out $20,000 for the son of The Mission from the Waylon J Stud draft at the 2021 Magic MillionsGold Coast National Yearling Sale.
He is the third stakes-winner and fourth winner overall from as many runners for the High Chaparral (IRE) mare Magical Mist, following Group III Rough Habit Plate winner Ballistic Boy (Smart Missile) and Group III Premier’s Cup winner Splendiferous (Pride Of Dubai).
Yellow Brick is the first stakes-winner for Aquis Stud’s Group 1 winning Choisir stallion The Mission.
